LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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RELIGIOUS EXPERIEHCE 



-OF- 




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AND WHAT HE TAUGHT. 



WITH TESTIMONIES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN 
BENEFITED THEREBY. 



-by- 



CARRIE E. KIRKHAM. 






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Of WA8«' 



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PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 
CANANDAIGUA, N. Y. 

1894. 



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JTHE LIBRARY! 
OF CONGRMtj 

WAWHIOTOjl 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1894, by 

CARRIE E. KIRKHAM, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



PREFACE. 

I give this work to the public, offering no 
apology only that I feel it a God-given duty to 
do so. Feeling unqualified for the task, my 
sufficiency has been of God. Claiming no lit- 
erary merit, I have, in as simple a manner as 
possible, written facts relative to "all the per- 
sons mentioned therein. Had I the ability or 
disposition to follow the example of those who 
write to display talents, by a multiplicity of 
words or events, J might have easily doubled 
the size of this book; but heeding the command, 
"Let your words be few," I have endeavored 
to give a clear explanation of the doctrines 
taught, and the experiences resulting there- 
from, with a truthful record of the persecutions 
that followed. With two exceptions, I have 
intentionally used false initials of the names of 
those whose doings, good or evil, are here given; 
and I call upon Him whose eye pierces the deep 
recesses of every heart to witness to the purity 
of motive which prompted its publicity and the 
correctness of statement herein contained, leav- 
ing the result to the judgment scene, when it 
will be known by all " Who served God, and 
who served Him not." 

The Author. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. Page 

Birth of Mr. Dunkle— Moved to Hopewell— Marriage 
— Early Conversion — Desire to know God — Reclaimed — 
Joined the Methodist Episcopal Church — Suffering of 
Mind — The Lodge — Slavery — Wesleyan Methodist 
Church Organized — Church Built at Hopewell — Holi- 
ness Sought and Received — Leadings of the Lord to Visit 
Neighbors — The Scriptures Seen in a New Light — Pros- 
perity of the Work of the Lord — Covenant Made with 
God — Witnessed against False Teaching at Camp meet- 
iag — Third State of Grace Realized — Opposition of 
Preachers — Special Anointing for Work — Sermons Re- 
viewed and Compared with the Word — Great Bone of 
Contention— " A Good Man but Full of Error," 1 

CHAPTER II. 

The Author Joined the Methodist Episcopal Church — 
Intense Desire to be Saved — Confession to her Sister — 
Conversion at Camp-meeting — Met for the First Time 
Mr. Dunkle and the " Father" — Joined the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church — Death of Brother-in-law — Attended 
Quarterly Meeting at Hopewell — A new Life Lived — 
Confidence Lost in Churches — Holiness Professed — An 
Opposer of Mr. Dunkle — Led through Business to Hope- 
well — Prayer Meetings Held at the Home of Mr. Dunkle 
— Attended Camp -meeting at Bloods — Many Helped by 
Mr. Dunkle at this Meeting — Opposition from the ' ' Fath- 
er" and Others — Intense Suffering of the Author Dur- 
ing Camp-meeting — Returned Home Clinging to a False 
Hope — Persecution against Mr. Dunkle Increased — The 
Profession of Holiness Abandoned by the Author — The 
Question, " God or the World," Debated — The Decision 
Made — Looking for Help — Led to the Bible — Received 
the Holy Ghost— Truths Taught by the Holy Ghost— 



]V CONTENTS. 

The Words " Everywhere This Sect is Spoken Against" 
Impressed upon her Mind — Led to See in Mr. Dunkle a 
Chosen Vessel of the Lord — Resolved to be True to her 
Convictions— False Doctrine Refuted by Mr. Dunkle — 
Led to Attend Meeting at Mr. Dunkle's — Restoration, 
Found — Beginning of Persecution — Witness Lost 
Through Disobedience — Restored to God's Favor — God's 
Law Rejected by a Friend — A Letter from a Former 
Pastor — Testimonies Weighed — How Mr. Dunkle Re- 
garded Modern Religious Songs IT 

CHAPTER III. 

Mr. Dunkle's Belief Regarding the Infallibility of any 
Mortal Being — His Conversation with the ' 'Father" — Ju- 
das among the Disciples — Advanced Light Received by 
the Author — Decision Made between God and Baal — Holi- 
ness Received — Testimony of a Pastor — The Author 
Returned Home in an Adjoining County— Attended the 
Meetings of the. Church — A Business Man Received 
Witness of Acceptance — Led in Prayer — A Number 
Converted and Restored — Accused of "Heresy" — Re- 
turned to the Neighborhood of the Meetings — The Case 
of Mr. and Mrs. B.— The Influence of Mrs. C. upon the 
Author — Light Came through the Truth, , , , , , 59 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Call of Duty— Convicted for an Advanced State 
— Encouragement from Mr. Dunkle — A ' ' Deeper Work 
of Grace Experienced" — Strength Received from the 
Instruction of Mr. Dunkle — The Protecting Care of 
God — Mr. Dunkle Led to See the True Character of an 
Evil Man— The Case of Mrs. F— Words of Mr. Dunkle 
on Marriage — The Author Established in All the Grace 
Received , , ♦ , 75 

CHAPTER V. 

A Lady Who Came like Nicodemus— The Word Held 
up as a Glass— A Third State of Grace Taught by Mr. 
Dunkle — Experience of the Converted Catholic Girl — 
A Fresh Committal Made to God by the Author— The 
Gulf between the World and Her Made Wider— The Or- 
deal of Martyrdom— Leadings of God Related— Words 
of Mr. Dunkle— The Sacrifice Made— Went to Mr. C. as 
seamstress — Third State of Grace as Defined by Job, 
Isaiah, and Peter — The Arm of the Lord Revealed — A 
Neglect of Duty— The Neglect Confessed— A Witness 
to the Experience of a Third State of Grace 86 



CONTENTS. T 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Author Led into Truths— Scriptural Economy 
Learned — Care Left Where it Belonged — "All things" 
Received for Christ's Sake — A German Catholic Woman 
— The Sheepfold Found by Mr. A. — He Became an Ene- 
my — Mrs. A. — Deep Experience of her Daughter — Mr. 
Dunkle Gave Instructions in the Western Part of the 
State — The Cross Refused — Miss J. Received Instruc- 
tion Regarding the Third State — The Change Realized 
— Mr. Dunkle's Words on ' ' Diligence in Business " — 
Words on Consecration — Solomon's Temple — The Doc- 
trine of Progression — The Truth Given, " Zion is a City 
Compact Together, Whither the Tribes Go up into the 
Testimonies of the Lord." 107 

CHAPTER VII. 

Mr. Dunkle unconscious several hours — "Never in 
Better Health and Perfectly Happy " — Delivered from 
the Burden for Miss C. — His Words on Depending on 
God Alone — The Cry of Op posers — His Answers to a 
Preacher — Evil Reports — The Lord's Supper and Bap- 
tism — Teachings on the Gift of Healing — A Trying Or- 
deal "with a Neighbor — Third State of Grace Lost by a 
Minister — False Teaching of Dr. and Mrs. Palmer — 
Separation Taught — A Trying Duty 18& 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Author Worked in a Universalist Family — Con- 
fused by Their Doctrine — Restored to Love and Power 
—What Mr. Dunkle Said of This Sect— The Beast and 
its Mark — Unscriptural Dress, Manners, and Influence 
of Women— The Author Established in the Truth— The 
Way Opened to Leave the Universalist Family — Sur- 
rounded by Trying Circumstances — Health Failed — 
Went to Live in a Small Family — Accepted Invitation 
to Live with Mr. and Mrs. Dunkle — Mr. Dunkle Re- 
ceived Light on the Doctrine of the Trinity — His Words 
in Speaking of God's Attributes— The Reasons He Gave 
Why so Few Obey God 154 

CHAPTER IX. 

Great Inward Suffering of the Author — United to the 
Savior — Without Choice or Preference in Life — The His- 
tory of a Lady Who Went Through Deep Waters but 
Kept the Faith— Testimony of Mr. Dunkle Regarding 
Unlawful Appetites, Habits, and Practices — Truth Re- 



Yl CONTENTS. 

jected by Mrs. C.— Case of Mrs. L.— Threat of Mrs. C. . 167 
CHAPTER X. 

Mr. O. Converted — Mr. Dunkle's Advice on Parental 
Authority — Insincerity of Mrs. 0.— The Author Prayed, 
" Dear Lord, Do with Me as Seemeth Thee Good "—Mrs. 
O. Executed her Threat — The Author Summoned to 
Appear before a Justice — Charged with " Assault with 
a Dangerous Weapon" — Proceedings Dropped — Re- 
ports in the Papers — Dead to All but God — Mrs. C. Car- 
ried Out her Threat to Miss. J. and the Author — False 
Reports 180 

CHAPTER XI. 

Miss J. Cited to Appear before the Justice — The Au- 
thor Summoned to Appear — The Case Fell for Want of 
Evidence — Mr. D.'s Words on Marks of Discipleship— 
Satan — Human Nature or God's Word not Changed — 
Another Evil Attempt Made by Mrs. O.— The End of 
Mrs. C. and Mrs. L. — Respite from Outward Afflictions 
—Mrs. Dunkle Led into Great and Wonderful Truths — 
Those Who Heard and Believed Rejoiced in the Same. 194 

CHAPTER XII. 

Conversion of Mrs. Dunkle — The Church her Idol — A 
Model Woman — Heard from-Mrs. C. Scandalous Reports 
— Committed Herself to the Doctrine— Forty Years Lost 
— Vision of Mr. Dunkle — Restored to her First Love — 
Followed her Husband as he Followed Christ — Her Tes- 
timony to the World — Mr. Dunkle's Views on " Grades 
in Heaven" — Woman's Rights — His Words Regarding 
Spiritual Leaders 204 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Conversion and Death of Mr. P. — Mr. Dunkle In- 
spired to Pray for a Woman — An Older Brother — Prayer 
Answered — Miss J. and her Family — Experience of Mr. 
Y. Converted— Confessed Christ — Enjoyment Gone — 
Joined the Church— Moved to Ontario County — A Mem- 
ber of the Church Without True Religion — Appointed 
Steward — Married — Expectations Disappointed — Death 
Entered Family— On the Verge of Despair — Talked with 
a Stranger, Mr. A. — Visited Mr. Dunkle — New Aspira- 
tions After God — Confession — Joy and Satisfaction Re- 
stored — Sentiments -Advocated — Withdrew Publicly 



CONTENTS. \lh 

from the Church— Advanced in Knowledge — Persecu- 
tion and Reproach Received — Education of Children — 
Third State of Grace — Salvation to the Uttermost by 
Faith and Obedience 216 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Mr. Dunkle's Words to a Calvinist — God's Word Re- 
jected—Mr. Dunkle Impressed to Talk with a Lady — 
The First Three Points of Christian Experience Ex- 
plained—Truths Admitted but not the Points— ' 'A Marked 
Soul for Awful Delusions" — Experience of a Sister who 
Received the Third Change 230 

CHAPTER XV. 

Testimony of the Author Relating to her Present Con- 
dition and Prospects — Death would be Welcomed as the 
Gate to Endless Joys — Pity for Those who Tried to do 
her Harm — Mr. Dunkle Admonished of the Approach 
of Death — Rejoiced at the Prospect of Death — Temporal 
Affairs Regulated — Unusual Manifestations of Grace — 
Crowning Grace of his Experience Realized — Words to 
Mrs. Dunkle — Talked with the Doctor of his Faith — 
Decision of the Doctor — Minor Details of Business Ar- 
ranged — Sent for Friends of the Lord — Words to Mr. V. 
— Mourning Turned into Joy — A Scene Words Cannot 
Describe — Extracts from his Last Words — The End Near 
— The Last Sign of Consciousness — His Arrangements 
Carried Out— Concluding Words of the Author, 24& 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

OF 

GEORGE DUNKLE. 



CHAPTER I. 




.EORGE DUNKLE was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, Dec. 12, 1808; moved to Hopewell, 
Ontario Co. N. Y. , in early manhood, and at the 
age of twenty-four years married the eldest 
daughter of the Rev. Gideon Draper. Previous 
to his marriage he had been a miller by trade, but 
wishing to lead a more quiet life he settled on a 
farm in Hopewell, and remained in the same 
vicinity until his death, March 2, 1886. When 
little more than nine years of age he was con- 
verted. The circumstances leading to that 
change were as follows : Near his home lived 
a boy who was very profane, and who seemed 
to delight in nothing so much as teaching others 
to blaspheme. 

Mr. D.' smother had expressly commanded 
him to avoid the company of this boy. But 
one day when she was from home, he came by 
and asked George to go fishing with him. At 
first he refused, remembering his mother's 
command, but was finally persuaded to go. 



2 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

When well out of sight the boy began using 
terrible oaths, trying at first to get George to 
repeat them, and finally daring him to do so, 
calling him a coward because he would not. 
This had the desired effect. 

He repeated the oath, but instantly convic- 
tion seized him. He thought of his awful sins, 
first in disobeying his mother' s commands, and 
now in taking the name of the Lord in vain. 
He ran home, went immediately to his room 
and to bed, though it was not yet dark. The 
fear of God, and the guilt he felt for his sins, 
caused him such anguish of mind that he cov- 
ered his face with the bedclothes and wept in 
silence, not daring to stir. 

This continued until nearly midnight, when 
he thought he heard some one open the door, 
walk close to the bed and say : ; ' Thy sins, which 
are many, are all forgiven thee." He quickly 
uncovered his head but could see no one, and 
wondered what it meant. He knew he heard 
the latch, the footsteps, the voice. His fear, 
his anguish, his guilt were all gone, and he 
was very happy; such a load gone, and a joy 
he had never felt before. The next day every- 
thing was changed; even the family, who were 
not professing Christians, saw the change and 
wondered what had happened to the child. He 
said nothing to any one of what lie had heard 
or felt, but the joy remained with him for some 
time, and then gradually died away. 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 3 

Through his youth and early manhood the 
remembrance of this experience was often be- 
fore him, and had a restraining influence on 
his life, keeping him from many of the vices 
his associates were led into. He always attend- 
ed religious meetings, joined in the singing, 
reverenced the profession of Christianity, re- 
spected those who worshiped God, and was 
strictly moral and upright in his life, but made 
no profession of religion. 

One day two ladies were visiting at his moth- 
er' s. As he was passing through the room he 
heard them talking of the decrees of God, which 
predestinated some to be lost and others to be 
saved, do what they may; and one remarked : 
u There are no doubt thousands of infants in 
hell." He stopped and said : " Ladies, if in- 
fants who know not to do good or evil, are in 
hell, what hope is there for you or I ? Your 
abominable doctrine is an imposition on the 
Almighty." They could not reply, and he 
passed on. 

He had married a lady of decided Methodist 
views, who wished to attend all the church 
meetings, and he now began to think much of 
God, man's responsibility, and death; and often 
while resting on the plow he would say: "Is 
this all of life, to begin labor as soon as strength 
will permit, continue until old age comes on 
and strength fails, and then die? What is 



4 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

life for ? What God 5 s object in man 5 s creation,, 
and what preparation does one need to be ready 
for death ?" Such thoughts as these soon be- 
gan to create a desire for a knowledge of God 
by an experience, and he began to seek the 
Lord. 

The winter after his marriage a protracted 
meeting was held in the neighboring town of 
Orleans. He attended from its very commence- 
ment to its close. As was common in such 
meetings, all who wished to seek the Lord were 
invited forward to the anxious seat to be prayed 
for. He went on the first invitation, and con- 
tinued going night after night, an earnest but, 
quiet seeker. But all seemingly to no purpose; 
his burden grew heavier, his feeling more in- 
tense. At last even his honesty of purpose 
was doubted by many, and insinuations spread 
abroad to that effect. Though well aware of 
these things, he continued seeking, feeling that 
it was life or death, heaven or hell with him, 
though he could not understand why the heav- 
ens were brass, that he could get no answer to 
his prayers that went up day and night to God. 
One night on his way home from the meeting, 
when disheartened and almost ready to give it 
all up, he turned to his wife and said: . " Mary, 
I will tell you something I never told any one," 
and he related his experience when a child. 
He had scarcely finished when the blessing of 



OF GEORGE DTJKKLE. O 

God came upon him, and he shouted praise to 
the Lord. How true the scripture, u My peo- 
ple are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Had 
he ever been taught the plan of salvation, which 
requires a faithful acknowledgment of all God' s 
grace in the heart, many years of suffering and 
loss would have been avoided. 

I can but exclaim, Where were the faithful 
teachers of the Lord that he had never heard 
of the necessity, of not only believing with the 
heart, but also of confessing with the mouth 
unto salvation ? 

The next night, after hearing his testimony, 
all rejoiced with him, and even the minister 
claimed him as one of his converts. 

He was now urged to join the church; for 
some reason he did not understand, he felt 
very reluctant to comply; yet supposing it to 
be the right way, after much persuasion he 
consented to give them his name. Immediate- 
ly there came upon him a horrible influence 
which caused him great suffering of mind for 
many days. In after years, when he had light 
to see the moral condition of that church, he 
understood God never intended him to connect 
himself with any religious body. 

He was a faithful attendant of all the church 
meetings in the village of Canandaigua, even 
the weekly prayer-meeting; though sometimes 
after driving three miles to that means of grace 



6 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

he would meet the minister going down street 
to the lodge, which could not fail to weaken 
his confidence in the body he was joined with, 
especially when he soon learned that it was no 
uncommon thing for many of the preachers to 
do the same : their lodge obligation paramount 
to meeting with the two or three for prayer. 

Soon the question of slavery, which shook 
both Church and State, came to be one of vital 
importance. Ever a friend of human equality, 
Mr. D. contended with other reformers against 
the complicity of the Methodist Episcopal 
church with slaveholders and abettors. Party 
feeling ran so high that if a minister dared to 
raise his voice in favor of the freedom of the 
slave, part of the church would leave the house, 
and the preacher was persecuted, if not wholly 
ostracised by his brethren. 

The leading men in the body were, if not 
open advocates of slavery, secretly in its favor, 
or at least compromising in their attitude to- 
ward the question. Finally, when those who 
could tolerate the vice no longer broke away 
from the old church and organized the Wes- 
leyan Methodist church, George Dunkle was 
found among them, ready to sacrifice time, tal- 
ent and money for the cause 

A society was formed at Hopewell Center, a 
house built for worship, and he, with his wife, 
were among the first to enroll their names. 



OF GEORGE PUJSTKLE. 7 

The little church prospered for a time, and 
had the leaders, who came to feed the flock 
from time to time, been not only reformers, 
but reformed men, who would speak only as 
moved upon by the Holy Ghost, there might 
truly have been in that place a church of God's 
own planting. As time passed on Mr. D. be- 
came convinced, from the feelings of his own 
heart and what he knew of Scripture, that 
there was more in the gospel than he had ever 
felt or known, and his mind became very much 
exercised about it; so much in truth seemed 
dark and mysterious and yet imperative. 

He had heard a great deal of preaching about 
holiness, had heard the profession of it; indeed^ 
many of the little church claimed it, but all 
this did not shed a ray of light on his way. 

One Sunday, on his way home from church, 
a voice spoke to him: "Take a leap beyond 
anything you have ever heard." He obeyed 
the voice, went to the Bible alone, for himself, 
there saw his privilege to advance in grace, and 
took his case to the Lord, who sees the deep of 
every heart. For months he sought, like the 
woman to the unjust judge, resolved never to 
give up the struggle until victory should come. 
One morning, before arising, he exclaimed 
aloud : u I' ve got it ! V ve got it!' 5 u What 
have you got ?" said his wife. " I' ve got it I 
I've got it !" said he. 



8 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

He told her at last he had found what he had 
been seeking for. While attending to chores 
that morning he felt the Spirit lead him to go 
to the next house, tell them what God had done 
lor his soul and pray with them; and they con- 
fessed he had the power of the Holy Ghost. At 
this house lived a gray-haired father in the 
church, a preacher also, who had professed 
holiness for many years. What was Mr. D.'s 
astonishment to find, instead of fellowship, as 
he had anticipated, (according to the Scrip- 
tures, "If ye walk in the light as he is in the 
light, ye have fellowship one with the other,") 
a perfect separation. He had not learned to 
try the Spirits very perfectly yet, but he pon- 
dered these things in his heart like Mary. The 
sequel will show that this man was wicked at 
heart, though professing to be free from all sin, 
and became a very bitter opposer. 

Now the Scriptures were seen in a new light : 
where he had seen men as trees walking, he 
now saw clearly. 

Taking the Bible as the only standard of 
right, the Holy Ghost as the interpreter, he 
saw the true condition of his surroundings. 
He failed not to speak the plain truth as it was 
revealed to him, " Showing my people their 
transgressions and the house of Jacob their 
sins." The effect of this plain dealing was 
soon felt; many were convicted, and the work 



OF GEORGE DUISTKLE. 9 

of the Lord began to prosper. Sinners were 
converted. Church members were restored to 
their first love, and many were led to a higher 
state of grace. The sound of this went abroad, 
and strangers coming in were convicted, and in 
answer to prayer obtained saving grace. Sev- 
eral ladies from the village of Canandaigua 
came, believed and were saved; one continued 
in the faith and died a few years later leav- 
ing behind this testimony, "I have found 
the only right way." Another adhered for 
several years and advanced in grace, but at 
length was overcome by the opposite influence, 
became very untruthful, and went back to the 
old church. All the others were like the seed 
which fell on stony ground: with joy received 
the Word, but when persecution came withered 
away and went with the many who take the 
world in one hand and religion in the other. 
All this prosperity was a source of discom- 
fiture to the preachers, who could not shut their 
eyes to the power from whence all this awaken- 
ing came, as often when he spoke or prayed 
many would fall to the floor calling for mercy. 
At one time he was made unspeakably happy, 
and while under that influence, God said to 
him :" Will you obey me in all things?" He 
answered, " I will, Lord, at the expense of life 
itself." This covenant, which was ratified in 
heaven, he kept through life, fearlessly stand- 






10 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ing for principle, though every man' s hand was 
against him, and many times he was alone, like 
" A sparrow upon the house-top." 

Near by a camp-meeting was in progress, 
which he attended. The first sermon was by a 
man who said he felt led to preach on the sub- 
ject of holiness, a subject which he confessed 
he knew nothing of by experience, taking as a 
text, ' ' Follow peace with all men and holiness 
without which no man can see the Lord." At 
the close of the sermon the opportunity was 
given for testimony. Mr. D. saw the awful 
presumption of a man trying to explain to 
others what he had no knowledge of, and felt 
that God required him to be a witness against 
such a teacher. 

He hesitated a moment, well knowing what 
the result would be, but his covenant came to 
mind and he arose to his feet; truly he was 
given a mouth and wisdom his adversaries 
could not gainsay or resist. 

He said : ' ' God does not send men to preach 
until they are qualified by the Holy Ghost, as 
the Scripture saith : ' He that laboreth must be 
first partaker of the fruit.' What right, then, 
has any man to preach holiness who has not 
realized it ? He can only preach the command- 
ments of men, which is but vain worship," and 
closed his remarks by calling such teachers 
''false prophets," of which he warned all to 
fc< beware." 



OF GEOBGE DtHSTKLE. 11 

This testimony threw consternation in the 
ranks, and there were many of the preachers 
present who wished to dismiss the meeting im- 
mediately. 

The "Father," of whom I spoke before, came 
to Mr. D. in haste, saying: "What do you 
mean? What are we going to do?" Mr. D. 
replied, quietly: "I am going to serve the 
Lord." The meeting was continued, and in 
Mr. D.'s tent daily and nightly prayer-meet- 
ings were held and many were saved. At this 
time he realized a third state of grace, though 
such a thing he had never heard of. It was 
like a death to sin, and he likened his feelings 
to the dying out of the candle wick after the 
light is blown out. I shall have occasion to 
speak much of this hereafter. The fight with 
the powers of darkness began in earnest now. 
The preachers were, to a man, against him; 
but he had placed himself on the side of truth, 
and was firmly supported by it. The ' ' Father 5 ' 
was chief in the persecution that followed, 
often insinuating that "Mr. D. was a little in- 
sane;" this had its weight coming from such a 
source, and no doubt turned many out of the 
way. 

The general cry was, "You are not my 
judge;" and "Such a lack of charity;" yet 
wherever he moved souls were awakened to a 
sense of their condition, and as soon as they 



12 KELIG10US EXPEEIEISTCE 

realized saving grace they were in fellowship 
with Mr. D. ; and when they lost it they were 
in fellowship with his opposers; strange if he 
was not owned of God ! 

At a prayer-meeting one night God's mani- 
festations were very unusual; and what he re- 
alized he would never name, but others saw it 
was a special anointing for his work, and he 
was truly after that a " teacher sent from 
God;" and whenever he heard the truth per- 
verted or misapplied he was ready for its de- 
fense. This gave the greatest offense, as min- 
isters by their profession and ordination feel 
capable of instructing those to whom they are 
sent; and to be condemned as " false teachers" 
by one whom they came to teach, was too much 
to be borne; and they were glad to take a new 
charge at the end of the year. 

It was customary to have class-meeting after 
the Sabbath service, and it was there the ser- 
mon would be reviewed and compared with 
the Scriptures; and if it could not bear the 
test it was pronounced " false." He claimed 
the God-given right to do this, though admit- 
ting it to be contrary to general usage, because 
" All who w r alk in the light are called to be wit- 
nesses; and none are true witnesses who will 
hear the truth publicly wrested and not stand 
in its defense." Second, " Because all who hear 
false doctrine, and are led by it, will be led 



OF GEORGE DTJXKLE. 13 

wrong, and so be lost; and all who are silent 
when they hear the wrong, are like the watch- 
man who, seeing the sword coming, fails to 
warn the wicked; and the blood of all who per- 
ish in consequence will be found in the watch- 
man' s garments." This was his reason for tak- 
ing such a strange course, simply to clear his 
own skirts of the blood of souls, and retain 
God' s favor. 

One man preached from the text, "Who 
among us shall dwell with the devouring fire \ 
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting 
burning?" and applied it to sinners, exhorting 
them to repent lest they be sent to these ' ' ever- 
lasting burnings." When the time for testi- 
mony came Mr. D. said: "We have heard 
false doctrine to-day. God is not address- 
ing sinners here, as the next verse, which an- 
swers the question, will show, l He that walk- 
eth righteously and speaketh uprightly,' etc. ; 
then follows the protection of those who are 
able, by being made free from sin, to dwell 
with God, who is a consuming fire." 

Another time an old man preached on holi- 
ness, and said he once enjoyed it, giving a 
good testimony of its cleansing power, but con- 
tinued : " I have lost it, and am now living in 
a state of justification." Mr. D. said : u Those 
who believe that doctrine will be lost; one 
can not fall from any state without disobe- 



14 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

dience, which brings condemnation ; and one 
who is not living in the enjoyment of all he 
has ever known, has no more of the favor of 
God than a sinner, who never knew anything 
of saving grace. This doctrine," he contin- 
ued, "is the main reason of the state of the 
church; almost the entire membership admit 
they do not enjoy what they once had, but 
yet they love God, have his blessing, and 
expect to go to heaven, and often say they 
would not give up their hope for worlds." He 
denounced the doctrine in the strongest terms 
as of Satan, to delude souls; and more strong- 
ly did he denounce any man who would set 
himself up as a teacher, who had only such 
blindness to give the people. 

Still another spoke of the simplicity and 
power of the early Methodists, closing with the 
remark that "the world was growing better 
and better, and would finally all be converted 
to Christ." Mr. D. refuted it by quoting 
Christ's own saying: "Verily when I come 
shall I find faith on the earth;" and "As it was 
in the days of Noah so shall it be in the day 
when the Son of Man shall come." But the 
great bone of contention came when a man 
preached from the 7th of Romans, and applied 
the "body of this death," under which Paul 
groaned, to the burden sinners feel wlien con- 
victed. 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 15 

Mr. D. contended that a sinner did not " De- 
light in the law of God after the inward man," 
and that the chapter was a figurative descrip- 
tion of a man justified before God, who sees 
the nature he was born with, its bondage and 
depravity, who desires to be made free from it; 
he also sees that the law could not affect this; 
hence the necessity of the atonement, which 
calls for thanks that this freedom could be ob- 
tained through "Christ Jesus our Lord." That 
the 8th of Romans wa# the testimony of this 
man who had been made free from the carnal 
mind; that this, and this only, is holiness, 
without which no man could see the Lord. 

The standard writers of the church, and the 
leaders, almost to a man, were against him; 
and many were the sermons preached from this 
chapter, either to convince or oppose, which 
were met with the same scriptural arguments; 
and so the war continued for several years. 

Nearly every Sunday there would be a battle 
between truth and error. Some would be con- 
vinced and convicted, while others would be 
more and more bitter in their opposition. Al- 
most every Monday morning that "Father" 
and his wife, who was fully joined with him in 
the opposition, would ride around the charge, 
calling on those who were not fully won over, 
and their theme always was of "The awful 
work carried on by Mr. D." "He would de- 



16 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

stroy the church. " " He lacked charity. " "He 
set himself up as a judge." u He had such a 
harsh spirit. " "He was destroying the lambs. ' ' 
"He was a good man but full of error," and 
much more of the same sort, not even regard- 
ing the truth in his accusations. 

Many who were friendly to Mr. D. would 
bring the reports to him, and his only reply 
was, " Well, let you and I serve the Lord." 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 17 



CHAPTER II. 

This brings this history to the time I first 
saw Mr. D. The foregoing is written as related 
to me by Mr. and Mrs. D., and others who stood 
by him during these stormy years; some in- 
deed for advantage, others, let us hope, in 
truth. 

As so much of my own experience was ob- 
tained by believing what Mr. D. taught, I feel 
it duty to stand in defense and confirmation of 
the gospel by recording it in this work. I had 
been brought up in the doctrines of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, joined it by invitation 
at the age of eleven, and was an acceptable 
member for many years, but had never been 
converted. I became conscious of this as I 
grew old enough to think for myself. I had 
heard of a change of heart, and day after day 
I would revolve these things in my mind. c ' A 
change of heart ! I know nothing of it : my 
heart, my feelings, my mind, are all as they 
ever have been. I fear to die; I know I have 
sinned; I have no knowledge of forgiveness. 
I have heard many say they knew when God 
forgave them. I do not. Then was not all my 



18 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

profession false ? Was I not dishonest by ap- 
pearing to the world as a Christian when I 
knew I was unchanged ?" 

At times I suffered greatly in mind because 
of these things, and finally I concluded to con- 
fess it in my class-meeting. I did so, but 
neither the preacher nor leader made any reply. 
After the meeting one brother grasped my hand 
warmly and exhorted me to never rest until I 
was satisfied. 

One sister in whom I had great confidence, as 
she professed holiness, said she was very sorry 
I had made a public confession because of the 
influence on the unconverted, adding that my 
life was very exemplary. This greatly dis- 
heartened me, and I resolved never to mention 
it again. Sometimes I took part in the social 
meetings because urged to do so, but never by 
prayer or testimony did I claim to be a Chris- 
tian, but would express my good desires. I 
was very unhappy for six years. The fear of 
hell and the certainty of death were ever before 
me, so that I took no pleasure in amusements 
or society. I tried to seek the Lord in secret, 
but knew not how to find him. I was always 
glad when I heard anything in church that I 
thought would aid me, but all was of no avail. 

An older sister had married a man who be- 
came a Wesleyan preacher; my business called 
me to their neighborhood, and I boarded with 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 19 

them for a year. He was always talking on re- 
ligious topics and Bible truths. I used to think 
much of these truths, believing I would be 
judged by them, and knowing I was not pre- 
pared for the event, I began to pray more 
earnestly, morning, evening, and at noon-day, 
as I read in the Scriptures. O ! how intense 
became my desire to be saved. I used often to 
think, "Christ has died to save me. God has 
invited me to come to him, and must I be lost ? 
My sins are great, is there no way to find for- 
giveness ? No one knew my state of mind, as 
I was now always active in meeting. At last I 
began to think there must be something God 
required me to do, some cross to bear, or he 
would hear my prayer. After a time I felt it 
duty to make a confession to my sister, whom 
I very much loved, and her husband, of an act 
by which I had deceived them; it was a great 
cross, as I esteemed highly their love for me, 
and truly thought my confession would forever 
destroy their confidence in me. But I was de- 
termined to do all I knew would please the 
Lord, so I waited a favorable opportunity, hum- 
bly acknowledged my wrong, and also told 
them my state. They were much astonished, 
but entreated me never to cease the effort until 
I found what I desired. This was one step 
gained; and I continued to pray more and more 
earnestly. In the autumn a camp-meeting was 



20 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

to be held at Blood's Corners, Steuben county, 
N". Y. We all went, and I was converted, so 
that I knew I was saved. I did not fear death; 
I knew for myself I was changed. Mr D. was 
at this meeting. My brother-in-law had met 
him before, and as they believed alike on the 
seventh of Romans, and many other disputed 
points, they were often together. I was intro- 
duced to him and heard him speak once, and 
thought him a man of very deep experience. I 
also met, for the first time, that " Father" 
whom I supposed to be a " Father in Israel." 
The Wesleyan people became very dear to me 
now, and I left the Methodist Episcopal church 
and joined them, truly believing I had found 
among all the denominations the true church 
of Christ, and that their ministers were anointed 
to preach the gospel. In less than two years 
my brother-in-law died, and my sister came to 
live with our parents. One day she received a 
letter from that " Father," inviting us to come 
to Hopewell to attend a quarterly meeting. As 
we lived far from any Wesleyans we were de- 
lighted to go. The " Father" met us at the 
depot, and took us to his house. Very soon the 
conversation turned on the religious state of the 
place. "What a strong, prosperous church 
was once here, and now it was almost destroyed 
by the awful doctrines held by Mr. D. ; he had 
f such an uncharitable spirit, would so harshly 



OF GEOKGE DIHSTKLE. 21 

condemn every one who did not come up to his 
standard," etc. I was much surprised at this, 
as I had believed it wrong to speak unkindly 
of any man, and more so in his absence; but 
having such confidence in the " Father," I 
waived my views, and as he referred so often 
to "the doctrines," I finally asked what doc- 
trines he held that was the cause of so much 
evil. He replied: "Why, he believes he can 
read hearts ! and that he is infallible !" I had 
not a doubt of the truthfulness of all this, and 
it made so deep an impression on my mind that 
I could not conceive of a more deplorable state 
than such views would bring about. My preju- 
dice carried me so far that I could not believe 
in any good from such a source; and no matter 
what the testimony was, I could see nothing 
but the awful doctrine of which I had heard. 
Almost the entire conversation was of the same 
nature during our stay. Once I inquired if Mr. 
D. had been scripturally labored with to re- 
cover him from his errors. He replied: "Yes, 
I have labored, year in and year out; I have 
been time after time to his house and entreated 
earnestly with tears, but he is too set in his way 
to be influenced by any one." Mr. D. was at 
the meeting, and all he said seemed to me to 
mean, "I am infallible;" "I can read your 
heart." 

I returned home, and for four years my reli- 



22 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

gious associations were mostly among the Meth- 
odist Episcopal people. I thought there were 
some holy persons in that body, though as a 
whole I believed it to be a fallen church. Yet, 
I tried to be benefited by its teachings, and 
aided by my means, my labor, and my influence 
its efforts to do good. 

For several months after my conversion I 
retained the witness of my acceptance with God, 
was filled with joy and peace, and lived, indeed, 
a new life. I loved nothing so well as reading 
the Scriptures, and prayer, in which I talked 
with God and he heard and answered me. But 
my enjoyment gradually waned, and was finally 
all gone. I could not see the cause of this, but 
upon inquiry, found it the universal experience 
of all with whom I was surrounded. At times 
this state of mind was almost unendurable; the 
fear of being lost again returned, and the ach- 
ing void within caused me great suffering. I 
was very attentive to all the means of grace, 
and eagerly sought in every sermon for relief 
from my burden, but without avail. I visited 
persons of renowned piety, and found upon 
close inquiry their experience was the same, 
and that they believed the joys of justification 
must die out . My great regard for the ministry 
often led me to them for light on my state, sup- 
posing them to be the true teachers of the way 
of salvation. 1 invariably received one of the 



OE GEORGE DUNKLE. 23 

following replies: " You cannot have dying 
grace until you come to die," (which I now see 
was designed to quiet my fear of death). " It 
is all temptation," (which if believed would 
drown all conviction); or, 6i Gro to work for 
Jesus," (which I had no courage to do, as I be- 
lieved myself to be unsaved). During these 
years I had seen enough of the Wesleyans to 
be convinced that there was no spiritual differ- 
ence between them and the old church, and also 
that among the leaders of both there were un- 
charitable accusations, evil insinuations, back- 
bitings, bitter envyings, a strife who should be 
greatest, a desire to receive honor from men, 
and some in high standing were even lacking in 
morality. 

At first I would not look at these things, and 
kept hoping to see differently, for I had be- 
lieved truly they were God's teachers, and lost 
confidence only as compelled by well authenti- 
cated facts. 

There were some who were more blameless in 
their lives, and yet they fellowshiped those 
whom they knew were not so, laboring together 
with them for the salvation of souls ! My con- 
fidence grew less as I saw less of truth to found 
it on. As the years passed on I became more 
and more dissatisfied with myself, and more 
and more dissatisfied with the religious influence 
surrounding me. 



24 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

At different times I heard much of the doc- 
trine of holiness, and as I saw it was such an 
imperative command of God, I thought that 
might be my trouble; and though I had not the 
least idea what it implied, nor could I see any- 
thing definite in the teaching, yet I turned my 
attention in that direction and began to seek it. 
I read Mrs. Palmer, J. A. Wood, Pomeroy, In- 
skip, and a host of others, and the summing up 
of it all was: "Give yourself to the Lord, and 
believe he sanctifies you." I heeded it all, but 
it did not change me. I was urged to profess 
it, which I did; but I was the same burdened 
soul, though I dared to say but little about it. 
After professing such a high state of grace, I 
would often find myself praying for what I 
claimed to have, and in testimony desired, — to 
become holy. This inconsistency often shamed 
me, yet I heard the same from all who professed 
sanctification; and here I was, trying to make 
myself believe this was the way of religion, and 
so be at peace; but " thou> O Lord, wouldstnot 
let me be content without thee, for which I 
now praise thee." All this time I was one of 
Mr. Dunkle's bitterest opposers. I used all 
the influence I could command to destroy con- 
fidence in him. If I met any one who thought 
at all favorably of him, I repeated to them what 
the ''Father" had told me of him, and added 
all I could to turn them wholly away from him. 



OF GEOKGE DUSTKLE. 25 

Several would have believed in him had it not 
been for what I said to them, who to-day are in 
darkness and delusion, perhaps by my act. 
How much I have mourned over those things, 
and how much labor and money expended to 
undo them is known to God. I only obtained 
mercy because, like Paul, I did it ignorantly 
in unbelief, not knowing I was persecuting 
Christ in'his children. 

Every one whom I met, who had heard of Mr, 
D., was always ready to talk of him, and in- 
deed, he was a never failing source of conversa- 
tion to all. There was something I could never 
understand in this; I resolved many times never 
to mention his name again, as one altogether 
unworthy of such notice, because of his awful 
doctrines; but I as often forgot my resolution, 
for I could not let it alone. If I. had heard a 
remark he had made, in some way I would al- 
ways condemn it, scarcely believing it right to 
approve anything he said. The whole Wes- 
leyan society, as far as I knew it, was equally 
interested, and his name was in the mouth of 
every one to condemn and persecute. I had 
seen him but three times in four years, but with 
all this commotion about him I felt I knew 
him well. After a time, through the mysterious 
ways of God, my business led me to Hopewell. 
I boarded with a Wesleyan family, very kind- 
hearted, but who, like myself, were opposersof 



26 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

Mr. D. I attended church with them, but 
only occasionally met Mr. D. there, as he did 
not attend regularly. 

Little by little I could but see he had light 
and power that I never saw in any one. I 
wondered' much at this, he being in such great 
errors. He would take up the truth that had 
been used as a text and deduce more from it in 
a five minutes' testimony than the minister 
would in an hour. I was mortified at this, as 
I thought God would bless and sustain his own 
better than that, and surely, even though I had 
but little confidence in the one who occupied 
the pulpit, I had none at all in Mr. D. I was so 
disturbed by this that I finally called on the 
preacher in charge to ask where Mr. D. obtained 
such light. He replied : " The devil can give 
light." I tried to be satisfied with this, and 
gave up the solution of the problem, though I 
often queried why the same personage did not 
so enlighten others. I was now informed that 
Mr. D. had for many years held prayer-meetings 
twice a week in his own house — Tuesday even- 
ing and Sunday afternoon. A lady living in 
his neighborhood invited me to her house and 
then to accompany her to his meeting. I dis- 
liked the idea of going, but not wishing to be 
impolite I went. There were, perhaps, a dozen 
or more neighbors, and a few others who came. 
Some I could see were with him and some were 



OF GEORGE DtHSTKLE. 27 

not. I listened to all the remarks. It seemed 
to me, after hearing Mr. D.'s testimony and 
prayer, that he had something within that 'per- 
fectly satisfied him, and I could but contrast 
it with my own unhappy state. I thought 
much of this during the week, and went again 
the next Tuesday night. As we were the first 
to arrive, and Mr. and Mrs. D. received us so 
kindly, I felt at liberty to ask him a few ques- 
tions of his state of mind, which he answered in 
such a manner that I really wished I might feel 
what he described. I began to think some good 
might be here. I felt an intense desire after God 
for many days, and resolved to continue to at- 
tend the meetings, which I think I should have 
done had it not been for a trifling circumstance 
which occurred on Sunday. As I went into 
church I saw two of Mr. D.'s neighbors, who 
never went anywhere to meeting except to his 
house, and I felt they came as " busybodies in 
others' matters," to see which side I would 
take openly. It angered me greatly, and no 
doubt Satan aided it by suggestions that were 
false. I did not know then ' ' that they were not 
all Israel, who were of Israel." This, however, 
decided my course, and I resolved never to go 
near Mr. D.'s meeting again. The preacher 
said sneeringly to me: " I hear you are about to 
join Mr. D.'s clique. " "I was never so far from 
doing so as now," I replied. I was now settled 



28 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

in my views of Mr. D., and would as soon have 
looked for good among the heathen as to him. 

The preachers now all seemed to have a special 
concern for me, as I never met one of them but 
that they would warn me against him. 

The " Father" insinuated so many things 
that I inquired if he had an accusation against 
his moral character. He gave an evasive an- 
swer, adding, " His doctrines will lead to Free- 
loveism !" 

These men all appeared friendly to Mr. D., 
always greeted him warmly, calling him broth- 
er, and this persecution was carried on secretly. 

These things did not commend themselves to 
my conscience, but as I was doing the same, I 
could not condemn in others what 1 allowed in 
myself. I was now continually like the troubled 
sea, yet went along with the current I had so 
little confidence in because I knew of nothing 
better. 

The man at whose house I lived used to urge 
me to trust all my troubles with the Lord. When 
I endeavored to do so, I was like one indiffer- 
ent to danger, conscious I was not right, and no 
concern. I sometimes' feared I should be left 
of God to be deceived, and sometimes claimed 
his blessing; and so I went on through hope 
and fear. 

In the class-meeting one Sunday there was a 
testimony given by one who seemed to be in 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 29 

unison with Mr. D. We all understood him 
to advocate a state of infallibility, and we talked 
over the awful doctrine after the meeting closed. 

The next day I happened to meet that man, 
and, in the course of conversation, he spoke of 
a person he once knew who claimed to be in- 
fallible. I said : ' c You believe in it ?' ' He re- 
plied : ' ' I do not. ' 5 I referred him to his testi- 
mony on Sunday, telling him how I understood 
it. He replied: " I had no such thought. I said: 
'If one is led by the Holy Ghost, he is led right, 
as that Spirit cannot err and never leads any 
astray.' Do you not believe that V I could 
not deny the infallibility of the third person in 
the Godhead, and was greatly surprised at my- 
self that I could so misconstrue his remarks. 
I thought : " Can it be that Mr. D. is misun^ 
derstood in this way % There were some who 
heard the Savior who misrepresented his words; 
am I so blind that I cannot see what to Mr. D. 
seems so plain % But why have none of the 
learned men believed in him ? Surely some of 
the leaders would be with him if he were right, 
though I remembered none of that class believed 
on the Savior;" but I could pursue the argu- 
ment no farther, and decided, of course Tie is 
not right. 

In the fall of this year there was to be a 
Wesleyan camp-meeting at Bloods. The min- 
ister proposed hiring a large tent, and all who 



30 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

went from the charge join in the expense and 
accommodation. Mr. D. proposed that they 
buy several pieces of coarse unbleached muslin, 
which would be much cheaper, and make their 
own tent, as they had done many times before, 
and then, after the meeting, give the cloth to 
some needy persons. They divided finally on 
that question, and agreed to have two tents, 
that i ' Father ' ' being the head of the hired one, 
in which I stayed, and Mr. D. and many who 
leaned toward him in a separate one. 

There was a young lady living in the same 
family with me who had attended the Wesley- 
an church for several years, and who had made 
an effort to seek the Lord in one of the extra 
meetings held there, who, though she was 
claimed as one of the converts, did not realize 
any change, though she much wished to be a 
Christian. She went with me to this camp- 
meeting hoping to be converted. She had very 
deep conviction, and at the first invitation went 
forward for prayers. The ' ' Father ' ' knelt by 
her, and as soon as he began praying her feel 
ing all left her, and she became confused; she 
hardly knew why she was there, and she final- 
ly retired to the tent. 

In the morning, at family worship, she again 
began praying earnestly for herself, and the 
4 'Father" again joined in to aid her. Imme- 
diately her conviction left and she could not 



OF GEORGE DUJNTKLE. 31 

pray, and had no feeling for hours; then con- 
viction returned. 

This was repeated the third day, when she 
was in despair of ever realizing forgiveness. I 
had seen all this, and knowing her to be per- 
fectly sincere could not account for it, but en- 
couraged her to continue the effort. 

Mr. D. did not arrive on the grounds until 
the afternoon of the third day. As this lady 
and I were walking near his tent he met us, 
shook hands, and inquired after oiir spiritual 
state. I, who would not wish him to know my 
true state of feeling, answered evasively; but 
my companion, who did not share my prejudice, 
replied: "I came here to get salvation, but 
have not found it." He said : " Go up to my 
tent, there will be prayer-meeting soon." I 
very reluctantly went, because I could not well 
do otherwise without appearing rude. As the 
meeting progressed the power of God came 
down on that lady, so that she cried earnestly 
for mercy, and no doubt would then have plead 
until deliverance came, had not a false teacher 
laid his hand on her shoulder, saying : " Sis- 
ter, praise the Lord!" and a deluded sister 
joined in, " Yes, sister, praise the Lord !" This 
diverted her mind, the work stopped, the meet- 
ing closed, and I was glad enough to get away. 

The first night Mr. D. was there the preachers 
held a consultation, and concluded they had 



32 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

endured abuse enough to do something for 
their defense. They decided that whenever 
they saw him about to speak they would change 
the order of the meeting by calling 'on some 
one to pray. He seemed to be aware of this, as 
he took no part in the meeting while on the 
ground. It had always been the custom at 
such a meeting, after preaching to hold prayer- 
meetings in several of the larger tents, and Mr. 
D. confined his labors and worship to his own 
tent. As far as could be seen all the good that 
was done for any soul was done there. 

The next afternoon Mr. D. again met that 
lady and asked her if she was satisfied. ' ' No, ' ' 
she replied, " I am not changed." "Then never 
cease the effort," said he, u until you are, and 
let no one hinder you." 

That night, in the meeting, conviction again 
seized her, and she continued in the effort until 
she found the Lord. I was in the other tent, 
but heard the shouts of praise and knew its 
meaning, but felt so disappointed because of 
the place in which it was realized that I almost 
wished she had not come. When I met her 
the next morning she told me of her joy, and 
though I could plainly see it, I remarked that 
I had no confidence in the occupants of that 
tent. She kindly reproved me, and we parted, 
she remaining with those who had benefited 
her, and I with the opposite party. 



OF GEORGE D TINKLE. 33 

There were three sisters on the ground whom 
Mr. D. had met the year before at a similar 
meeting — one a poor widow who, having heard 
of him, had so great a desire to see him that 
she started for the meeting with only money 
enough to get there, trusting in God to provide 
her a way to return. Through Mr. D.'s in- 
struction she realized saving grace, and when 
about to leave the ground he felt impressed to 
give her some money, which he did, though 'he 
knew nothing of her circumstances; she re- 
ceived it thankfully with tears. Another was 
deeply convicted by what she had heard, and 
kneeling down began to pray earnestly for 
herself. An old false prophet in the tent was 
teasing a little girl to seek the Lord, and final- 
ly obtaining her consent to be prayed for, came 
to this sister and asked her to come and pray 
for that girl. She replied: "I am seeking 
salvation for myself. ' ' He said : ' ' This is the 
way to get it." She heeded him, and was thus 
foiled in her efforts to become saved. During 
the year they had met that ' ' Father, ' ' and cam e 
to this meeting strongly braced against Mr. D. 
One day while a prayer- meeting was in pro- 
gress, conducted by that " Father," the other 
sister came into Mr. D.'s tent and said : "Broth- 
er Dunkle, do you not think the 'Father' is a 
good man ?" He made no reply. She repeat- 
ed the question, and urged an answer. He 



34 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

finally said : "I can tell you one thing un- 
derstandingly. The prevailing influence down 
there [pointing to the place of the meeting] is 
not a divine influence." She gave a scream 
and left the tent. The interest of the meeting 
seemed to be in that tent; and whenever they 
began their meeting one after another would 
leave us, until we were almost without any to 
pray for; their tent would be full and crowds 
around it listening. This was too much to en- 
dure, and finally the president of the meeting 
ordered them to close their exercises when an- 
other was in progress. Mr. D., who always be- 
lieved in obeying those in authority, willingly 
consented to the arrangement. 

But the divine influence spread, the work of 
God continued, and at every meeting in that 
tent some one would realize saving grace; and 
the testimony of every one after realizing G-od's 
favor was, "I see Mr. D. is right." And even 
those who before were prejudiced found them- 
selves in fellowship with him when they were 
right with the Lord. One lady said : ' ' Brother 
Dunkle, how you have changed!" forgetting 
the change was in herself. 

One brother who was restored (a member of 
the Hopewell church), said: "We have all 
been against you. I now see you are right." 
Another who had just been saved, said: "I 
cannot now pray this part of the Lord's prayer, 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 35 

4 Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those 
who trespass against us,' though it was my bur- 
den ; for they are all forgiven. I cannot ask for 
what I know I have in possession; this is not a 
rejection of the truth, but its fulfillment." 

This testimony elicited from all sides, ' ' I hope 
never to get so holy as to reject the Lord's 
prayer." 

I joined in this, still I thought of a time when 
I, too, did not ask to be forgiven, knowing my 
sins were blotted out of His book of remem- 
brance. 

This was still harder to be borne, as there 
was nothing accomplished among us, and our 
meetings were dry and lifeless. At last the 
leaders had another consultation and decided 
to have those in Mr. D.'s tent arrested as dis- 
turbers of the peace. The papers were duly 
made out, and would have been served but for 
a fearful storm that seemed to come from an 
almost cloudless sky, which produced such 
an alarm that proceedings were stopped. 

The next morning Mr. D. called on the Es- 
quire, before whom the trial was to have been 
held, to pay for horse pasture had during the 
meeting. He was a professed infidel, but very 
respectfully said: "I am not a believer in 
Christianity, but have been shamefully abused 
by some of your leaders over there because 1 
frankly avowed my sentiments, when asked, 



36 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

and because I asked pay for damage done by 
their horses. Will you tell me what religion 
is?" 

Mr. D. replied : " God, whose nature is jus- 
tice and love, created man in his own image, 
which is righteousness and true holiness; man 
lost this image by disobedience to God's com- 
mands. God. by the death of his Son, provid- 
ed a way by which man could regain this image; 
and when it is regained it is a vital principle 
which lives in the soul. This is religion. The 
lack of this principle is the cause of the con- 
duct of those men." 

The Esquire was very much affected, and 
urged him in to breakfast, and gave him a 
pressing invitation to visit him. The meeting 
was to have lasted two days longer, but it 
closed suddenly after the Sunday evening ser- 
vice. 

As we were about to leave I went to those 
three sisters and told them my state of mind, 
and especially of the intense suffering endured 
through out the meeting. One replied : ' ' We 
all feel the same, and attribute it to that influ- 
ence," pointing to Mr. D.'s tent. 

Poor souls ! could we but have seen it was 
our own fallen state, how much better it would 
have been. 

Every year for more than ten years Mr. D. 
had attended a similar gathering, and always 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 37 

there were awakenings, convictions and the 
realization of saving grace as a result of his 
labors; but this was his last. He knew he was 
fully rejected by the Wesleyan leaders, and 
though they would not admit it, God gave him 
a complete victory over them, and they left the 
grounds in confusion, and he rejoicing at what 
the Lord had wrought. 

That lady and I returned home, she rejoic- 
ing in a reconciled heavenly Father, and I try- 
ing to brace up on a false hope,' which was con- 
stantly growing less. I knew at heart she had 
confidence in Mr. D. and was in fellowship with 
those who favored him. 

I, verily thinking I was doing God' s service, 
determined if possible to shake that confidence 
and destroy that fellowship. I knew I must 
act wisely to accomplish this, so I tried to get 
her interested in a little Sabbath-school near 
by, as a means of doing good, and to attend 
regularly at church, and finally to join it, which 
we both did, I by letter, she on probation. 

By this time she had lost her evidence, like 
myself. I had done all in my power, yet she 
still held to those people, and I finally gave it 
all up and turned to my own soul. I found I 
was in much the same state as I had been for 
four years, only more inclined to think that 
what so many testified to perhaps was right. 
I feared to settle down without knowing; and 



38 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

I had read too many positive testimonies in the 
Scriptures to rest wholly satisfied without the 
witness. I was like one groping in the dark, 
not knowing what I wanted or whither to go, 
yet I desired, above all things, to have God' s 
love and to obtain a seat in heaven. 

The persecution against Mr. D. was never 
greater than now. He was even accused of sit- 
ting as God among the few who attended his 
meeting, and that they looked to him as a 
Savior. * 

I was now confirmed in the belief that he was 
a deceiver, and there was not a lingering doubt 
in my mind but that he was a powerful instru- 
ment of Satan to destroy souls and aggrandize 
himself. 

I speak particularly of my feelings towards 
him at this time to show that the change I 
was soon to realize was brought about by God 
alone, uninfluenced by any human agency. 

But God, who wills the salvation of all, and 
will not condemn any to eternal punishment 
without first showing them the way to escape 
it, by that ' ' Spirit who convinces all of sin, 
righteousness and a judgment to come," had 
thoughts of compassion on me, although I had 
wandered far from him, and was soon through 
his mysterious ways to be shown my true state, 
my privilege and my duty. 

One evening the lady with whom I boarded 



OF GEOKGE DUKKLE. 39 

and I were engaged in conversation about the 
church, its prosperity and decline, and of the 
many who, in a few years past, had professed 
sanctification. She said : ' ' There is one thing 
that has always shaken my confidence in most 
of those who profess that blessing; at least I 
cannot understand why they pray for it if they 
have it, and why they express desires for it 
and at the same time claim to live in the enjoy- 
ment of it." This pierced me like a sword. I 
trembled, and could make no reply. She, see- 
ing my agitation, apologized for her remarks, 
but I, like a wounded, fluttering bird, could 
not regain my poise, and without a reply ex- 
cused myself and went to my room. I shall 
never forget that night. I did not sleep. I 
was like one whose foundation was gone, and I 
looked in every direction, confused and bewil- 
dered. My profession had been described, 
and if one who had never known a change of 
heart could see the inconsistency* of it, how 
ought I to regard it % I said : Where is the 
realty of the religion I have been professing 
for four years ? My conversion was too clear 
to admit of a doubt, but what had I known of 
realty since those joys were gone % Like that 
man on the camp-ground, as long as I had the 
witness I did not pray to be forgiven; and to 
pray for holiness and profess at the same time 
to enjoy it is folly indeed. I was ashamed that 



40 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

I had suffered myself to be so deluded. Are 
not the things of God as reasonable as those of 
men ? Would I hold a gift in my hand and 
yet continue to ask for it? Do I not mock 
God by asking of him what I claim he has 
given me '( What absurdity ! The more I 
looked at it the more I despised myself. Be- 
fore morning I had decided once for all to 
abandon such a profession, and that I would 
either obtain Bible religion or turn entirely to 
the world. 

To go dow r n to hell deceived, hoping in the 
mercy of God, seemed the worst fate imaginable, 
and I preferred to know I was in the broad 
way, to living longer in doubt. For three 
weeks I debated the question, Which will you 
choose, God or the world ? I weighed both sides 
fairly. If I decided for God I could see the 
self-denying, cross-bearing way, despised and 
rejected of men, persecuted, afflicted, tormented, 
and perhaps bonds and imprisonment awaiting 
me; for, although living under more humane 
laws than the martyrs did, yet was not human 
nature the same ? and did not the Bible declare 
that ' ' the servant is not greater than his 
Lord ?" If I turned to the world I could en- 
joy all the pleasures of the natural life; friends 
would flock around me, perhaps fame would 
crown my business efforts, and I would have 
" my good things in this life." 



f OF GEOKGE DTTNKLE. 41 

Then I had tasted the love of God, could I 
ever be satisfied with the paltry things of time 
and sense ? Would I not, in the midst of all 
my pleasures, long for what had once been my 
chief joy ? In thus comparing the difficulties 
of the narrow way with the ease of the broad, 
I fear I might have chosen the easier way had 
it not been for the future, so I counted the cost 
for eternity as well as time; an endless age, 
" where their worm dieth not and their fire is 
not quenched," with the world, or where "No 
sorrow can breathe in the air," with God. Ah ! 
' ' What will a man give in exchange for his 
soul ?" I could not endure the thought of that 
endless torment; so, great as the undertaking 
seemed, I decided to become such a Christian 
as could stand the test of the judgment day. 
I came to this decision very deliberately, and I 
could not now be deterred from my purpose by 
men or devils. With this determination I went 
to work, but what could I do ? I had read the 
chief works of Christianity and found no light. 
I had heard the leaders most noted for piety, 
and their views coincided with the authors I had 
read. Where could I go ? To whom could I 
look ? I had tried everything I had any confi- 
dence in, and it had all failed. Among thous- 
ands of professing Christians having their re- 
spective leaders, I felt alone and in darkness. 
I turned to God for help, and " He who is near 



42 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

in the valley of decision 5 ' began to draw my 
mind toward him, and I reasoned thns : "As he 
is to be my final judge, to condemn or acquit, 
will he not judge me by his law % Where can 
I find his law but in the Holy Scriptures ? If 
I comply with all the requirements therein con- 
tained how can I be condemned ?" This led me 
to the Bible — God's holy will to the world, and 
I decided to look only to that source for light., 
But here came another difficulty : I was blind 
and ignorant of the true meaning of what I 
read, and I could apply it in as many different 
ways as there were denominations. I believed 
God had but one meaning, but how I was to see 
it troubled me for many days; then these words 
came to me : " When He, the Spirit of truth, 
shall come, he shall teach you all things that I 
have said unto you." Ah ! here was the key^ 
of knowledge, though "I had not so much as 
heard whether there be any Holy Ghost," and 
yet God had promised ' ; to give him to those 
who ask, more willingly than earthly parents 
give good gifts to their children." 

Although I had committed these truths to 
memory in my childhood, and had heard ser- 
mons preached from them, yet I never knew 
they had any meaning until now. I could see 
asMng implied more than petition, and unless 
in my heart I intended to obey what he taught 
me I should never receive him, so I prayed 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 43 

earnestly for the Holy Ghost, promising to 
walk in all the light he should give me. One 
night I felt a holy influence come into my hearty 
and it remained with me. I did not understand 
it at first, but as the scales now began to fall 
from my eyes and I saw light in God' s light, 
I knew it was the Holy Ghost. 

The first truth he taught me was this : ' ' Now 
are ye clean through the word which I have 
spoken unto you. ' ' I had been taught that this 
cleansing came through consecration, believing 
and good works; but now this new doctrine 
which I had just begun to see, said : " Through 
the Word" I could obtain what I most desired. 
I saw holiness was a Bible doctrine, for "with- 
out it no man can see the Lord;" but I had 
never known its meaning or what change was 
necessary to its attainment, though I desired 
much to understand it. One day the Spirit 
gave me this truth : "For this very purpose 
the Son of God was manifest that he might 
destroy the works of the devil." In a short 
time he enlightened my mind to see its import. 

The first work of the devil is seen in man's 
disobedience in the Garden of Eden, and, as in 
"Adam all die," total depravity of the entire 
human family is the result. Christ was mani- 
fest to destroy this work; the sins committed 
are but the fruit growing on this evil tree, and 
are forgiven at conversion, when the soul is. 



44 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

freely justified by faith and has peace with 
God, but still has in possession the depraved 
or carnal nature. 

" Christ is faithful and just to forgive us our 
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness" The destruction of this evil nature is 
holiness or sanctification. I had tried for sev- 
eral years, by all means at my command, to 
get some knowledge of this doctrine, but in 
vain; and now it looked so plain and simple 
that I could but exclaim, " God is light," and 
c ' the wisdom of the world is foolishness with 
him." About this time these words were im- 
pressed upon my mind: ''Everywhere this 
sect is spoken against." I looked at all the 
different denominations of professed Christians, 
Ibut could find none to whom the truth applied. 
I thought of all the persons I had known to 
find one of whom the Scripture might truthful- 
ly be said, but failed to find any. Then I said: 
"Lord, are there none on the earth who are 
thus rejected as were the followers of Christ?" 
Mr. D. was presented to my mind, and I said: 
"Surely this truth is fulfilled in him, although 
he is in such great errors; yet it is impossible 
to find any but that speak against him. Can 
it be possible he is right, and I so blind as not 
to see it ? Yet here is the truth, and if placed 
as his judge I could but say, "he stands in it." 
Still I argued: "He cannot be in favor with 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 45 

God, as he claims to read hearts, or, at least, 
(after making due allowance for misrepresenta- 
tions) I was sure he claimed to know something 
of one's spiritual state, which I did not believe 
possible. Then the Spirit gave me this truth : 
" First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, 
and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out 
the mote that is in thy brother's eye." Christ 
had commanded it, and Mr. D. claimed the 
power to obey it. How could I say it was wrong ? 
I dared not reject the truth, though I had never 
seen it so before. But if I continue on in this 
way I shall soon believe as he, whom I was so 
positive was led alone by the evil one. This 
I was resolved not to do, unless every objection 
was removed by truth. I had been deceived 
too long and had suffered too much to fall into 
another pit deeper than the one I had but just 
escaped from, which I was certain to do if I there 
found what I had believed of him was true. 
Day after day the Scriptures were opened to 
me more than I have space to tell here, and in 
them I saw him, a man separate from sinners, 
walking in the law of God, a chosen vessel, 
anointed by the Holy Ghost to refute error and 
teach salvation to the world. At length every 
question was satisfactorily answered by God' s 
Holy Word, and, to be honest, I could no 
longer doubt his position as being right with- 
out doubting the Bible. It gave me great pain 



46 KELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

when I saw I had, in my blind zeal, persecuted 
the real children of God, and I should have 
despaired of ever obtaining forgiveness had 
not the Spirit directed me to Paul, who verily 
thought he was serving God by doing the same. 
So did I hope in the mercy of God, for although 
I had received all this light, yet I was in an 
unsaved state. It came to my mind that I had 
heard Mr. D. say many times, u Light is not 
salvation, but always precedes it." 

This revolution in my mind had taken weeks, 
but I had lisped it to no one. I now began to 
feel it was time to show my true colors. I was 
well aware of what the consequences would be. 
I had not a friend who would not rather have 
buried me than to know I endorsed Mr. D. 
The stigma attached to the name Dunkle-ite 
was enough to paralyze my business, so that to 
confess Christ before the world I must forsake 
father and mother, brother and sister, houses 
and lands, well knowing the promised perse- 
cution would follow; but I had put my hand 
to the plow with the intention of sacrificing life 
itself, if need be, for the gospel. 

Saturday afternoon that lady who was con- 
verted at the camp-meeting came into my room, 
and I told her of my deceived state and the 
light I had received about Mr. D., adding that 
" I should now go to his meeting and receive his 
instruction, as I saw he was a teacher of right- 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 47 

Her heart bounded with joy and 
her eyes filled with tears of gladness, as she 
now saw a way opened to go where she knew 
she would be benefited. We planned to go the 
next Tuesday night. Sabbath morning we both 
went to church with the family. It was the 
first sermon I had heard since light came to 
me. The minister was an old man who had 
been invited to this charge intentionally, in 
hopes Mr. D. would approve him. He had 
been suspected of a leaning towards the de- 
spised faith, though secretly an opposer. Some- 
time afterward I heard Mr. D. say: 6i He 
preached more truth than any man I ever heard 
and yet fall short of teaching Scriptural salva- 
tion." He proved himself a false prophet that 
day, taking for a text, " If the Son make you 
free ye shall be free indeed." I saw as soon 
as it was read that it implied holiness, as I had 
seen it in another truth, freedom from the de- 
praved nature As he continued speaking he 
certainly did declare truths I had never heard 
before. I was glad, but waited for the sum- 
ming up, which came in these words : " What 
is implied in this freedom \ Why, victory over 
sin! and the highest state attainable will give 
you no more than this ! Who wants more than 
this, brethren? Not I. Praise the Lord!" 
There were responses from many who enter- 
tained the sentiment. Oh! what awful feel- 



48 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ings it gave me ! I knew it was false, but be- 
cause I was not right with God I did not think 
it duty to say a word ; but O, if there only 
had been some one present who could refute 
the fatal error how glad I would have been. 
Yes, fatal error ! for every one who believed it 
rejected the atonement, and would come short 
of that sinless character, which alone dwells in 
heaven. In the class meeting following I wait- 
ed, hoping some one might have light and be 
true enough to God to witness against it; but 
one after another testified and either wholly 
endorsed it, or did not refer to it at all. In my 
intense feeling I had forgotten Mr. D. was 
there, and I was not a little surprised when, at 
the very last, he was called upon to speak. My 
heart gave a throb of joy at his first sentence. 
He first sang : 

"Oh! for a heart to praise my God; 

A heart from sin set free; 
A heart that always feels thy blood, 

So freely spilt for me." 

Then he said: "I am astonished beyond 
measure that any man dare to preach such sen- 
timent from such a text; it only shows the 
blindness of those who have not the Holy Ghost 
to give them light. The freedom spoken of in 
the text implies freedom from sin, as we just 
sang, which means its destruction or separa- 
tion from the heart, not victory over it as we 
have heard, as that implies its presence. Yic- 



OF GEORGE DTTNKLE. 49 

tory over the southern rebels means their ex- 
istence and subjection; but when sin is washed 
away in the blood of the Lamb it no longer ex- 
ists in the soul, but is gone, and that person so 
cleansed is a new creature in Christ Jesus. It 
seems that any school boy might see the dis- 
tinction. May God forbid that any here should 
be deceived by such false doctrine. I have 
thus spoken that none may rise m the judg- 
ment and say, c You had the light and concealed 
it.' Who is as responsible as the one to whoA 
God has given the light of life ? I this day warn 
you against all such false teachers, and hope 
there may be a looking to the Word and the 
testimony to see if these things are so. I de- 
clare this day I have no fellowship with such 
unfruitful works of darkness." I was the only 
one who responded to the testimony, and could 
see more clearly that I was not mistaken in 
calling him a " teacher of righteousness," and 
that he had been taught by the same Spirit 
that taught me. 

The meeting closed, and as we went out one 
sister shook hands with Mr. D., and, with tears, 
reprovingly said : ' ' Brother Dunkle, there 



?) 



are young souls here who might be benefited 
(referring to that lady and I). " What will 
benefit them," he replied, " truth or error?" 
" Why, truth of course," she said, somewhat 
abashed, and turned away. Afterward she 



50 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

came to us as we waited for the carriage, and 
said: "Sisters, don't suffer yourselves to be 
moved by all you have heard." I replied very 
promptly: " What we have heard only con- 
firms us more in the truth. ' ' She meant one side 
and I the other, but I did not explain, and she 
rejoiced that we were so firm, and prayed Grod's 
blessing upon us. After we were seated in the 
carriage I whispered to that lady, ' ' I wish we 
could go to Mr. D.'s meeting this afternoon." 
She had been desiring the same thing, and we 
finally concluded to get out at the next cross- 
road and walk a mile to the meeting. When 
we asked to get out, the man said : "I am sor- 
ry, andean only say, 'Oh! foolish Galatians, 
who hath bewitched you V " . I replied : ' ' We 
intend to obey Gi-od rather than man." 

Mr. D. met us at the door, saying : "God 
sent you here to-day." We were invited to 
dinner, with a number of others who were there, 
after which he said: "I had a vision last 
night. I thought I was fishing by a stream 
that was muddy and covered with floodwood 
and rubbish of all kinds, so that I could find 
but one place to cast in a hook, which a small 
but very active fish took eagerly. I laid it 
down and looked for another opening in the 
rubbish. I found one, and again took another 
fish, larger and more quiet than the first. I 
could find no other place to cast in a hook. I 






OF GEOKGE DUKKLE. 51 

did not know the meaning of this, but felt im- 
pressed to go to the church to-day, and would 
have left before the class-meeting but for the 
remembrance of the two fishes. I have so often 
declared the truth in that house but to have it 
rejected, that I felt it would be useless to say 
more. I started to go, but the Spirit restrained 
me, and here are the two fish, — the last persons 
I should have thought of ; but how thankful I 
am you can see the truth." I did not wonder 
at his surprise, as he knew how I had felt to- 
wards him. The vision tallied well with our 
form and movements, she, the shorter and 
quick to feel, I taller and more deliberate. 

In the meeting Mr. D. said : u No advance- 
ment could be made in the Christian course 
unless souls had the evidence of all they had 
ever known of grace." That lady confessed 
that she had lost her evidence and was restored 
that day, and went home happy in the Lord. 
I confessed my opposition to, and persecution 
of, this people, and the great change in my mind 
with reference to them and of my unsaved state, 
but obtained no relief. 

During the week we were all invited to spend 
the day with a friend of the family. After 
being seated some time the conversation turned 
on different books, recently published, and 
their authors. I took no part in the conversa- 
tion, and one person turned to me and said: 



52 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

' i What are you reading this winter?" Ire- 
plied, "Nothing particularly." I felt smitten, 
for had I not taken up the Bible, that source of 
true wisdom, as a special study that I might 
be wise unto salvation ? I felt that I ought 
to confess the truth, and intended to do 
so, but kept waiting until the opportunity 
passed, and I was obliged to return without 
doing so. Though it seemed like a small thing, 
I felt like a coward, and went purposely to 
church the next Sunday to take back my 
evasive answer, which I did; and though it 
caused some astonishment, it eased my heart 
and opened the way for the Spirit to again lead 
me. I continued seeking the witness, and the 
third Sunday as I arose to speak, intending to 
say, " I had not yet found my heart's desire," 
the witness came, the power of God was mani- 
fest, and I cried : "This is the Lord's doings, 
and it is marvelous in my eyes." There was a 
sister sitting across the room from me, who 
had also been seeking restoration, and the 
blessing of the Lord came upon her at the same 
time, so that she shouted the praises of God. 

It seemed to all a time of rejoicing over those 
who had found u the lost piece of silver." Oh ! 
but was I not happy ! not a cloud between God 
and I; not a doubt of his favor ; so long had I 
suffered in vain, and now in a few weeks of 
obedience to the Word, found what I had lost 






OF GEOKGE BUCKLE. 53 

The Lord continued to show me lights and 
the persecution began, but his favor was more 
to me than all the world could bestow. But I 
knew very little of God's dealings with his 
people, and my obedience was soon to be test- 
ed in many ways. I was staying at a neigh- 
bor's for a time, and when the hour for retir- 
ing came I felt a slight impression to ask the 
privilege of praying with them. They were 
very kind people, but not professors of religion. 
I could not at first believe it was duty, but af- 
ter retiring I became convinced it was, and al- 
though it was a simple act, I had never at any 
time met a cross equal to it, and I felt that I 
never could do it. The next night it was pressed 
upon me again, but it was so hard I shrank 
and disobeyed. I was conscious when the 
Spirit left me, and my witness was gone again. 
I was very sad, but there was the duty. Jonah- 
like I had refused the cross, and God had for- 
saken me. Occasionally I would hear his voice 
saying : u Obedience is better than sacrifice. " 
The duty seems trifling to me now, but it was 
a mountain weight then. 

Several days passed, by and I went over to 
the meeting, where I honestly confessed my 
disobedience, and said: "The cross was too 
heavy to bear." I shall never forget Mr. D.'s 
reply. He said: " God is a just being and 
never requires more of any one than they have 



54 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

the strength or ability to perform, and we can 
only tetain his favor as long as we are perfect- 
ly obedient to the Holy Ghost. When we re- 
fuse to follow him he leaves us; and if the in- 
fluence of our disobedience were felt only by the 
one who disobeys it would not be so sad, but 
none rises or falls alone. If we walk in obe- 
dience we draw others to the same state; if we 
continue in rebellion against him we influence 
all with whom we associate to be equally un- 
faithful. The power of influence is seen in the 
war in heaven, when Satan drew the third part 
of the angels with him. While God does not 
coerce any soul, yet he entreats all such as 
have turned away from him, to ' Return to their 
Father's house, where there is bread enough 
and to spare;' and this returning must begin 
by a renewed promise of obedience." I could 
understand its application to me, and felt its 
truthfulness and force ; but Oh ! the cross ! how 
could I ever take it up ; such a strange, un- 
heard-of thing for one in my position of life! 
How. it would be talked over and ridiculed ! I 
knew almost all of it was temptation, and I 
concluded not to be Satan's subject, and the 
next day promised God I would do it before I 
slept. I cannot describe my emotions. I 
trembled, and my heart fluttered, until I could 
hardly speak audibly, but I stammered my re- 
quest, which they respectfully granted, and I 



OF GEOKGE DUSTKLE. 55 

prayed, but never could remember what I 
prayed for, and went to my room, fell on my 
face, thanking God I had not again faltered, 
and he restored me to his favor that night. I 
wrote to a sister of the change I had realized, 
and the joy God had given me. Between us 
there had been great confidence and affection,, 
and I thought she would believe my testimony. 
She came to see me, and for two days labored 
to turn me back. She was as sure I was under 
the influence of Satan, as I had been that Mr. 
D. was ; and with tears she begged me not to 
destroy all my influence for good and shut my- 
self out from all society by pursuing such a 
course. She reminded me of Jemima Wilkin- 
son and others who had followers and came to 
naught. When I told her of the love and joy 
I had in my heart, she attributed it to a mes- 
meric influence Mr. D. had over me. I asked 
her to go with me and talk with him, but she 
scornfully refused. I finally proposed this 
agreement : " If you will read nothing but the 
Bible for six weeks, and honestly obey every 
word in it that you see is a duty, at the end of 
that time I will renounce my position if you 
and I do not then agree." With a determined 
gesture she replied : "I would not do it for 
the world." I felt very bad that she should 
thus reject God's holy law, but I was power- 
less to do more, and we parted. I was severely 



56 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

tempted after this that I might take a more 
conservative course, and not be an affliction to 
my friends; and then there was my influence 
for good; but I remembered that "only the 
good tree could bring forth good fruit." I 
could not see when in a fallen state I had ever 
benefited any one, and as God called me to see 
to my own vineyard first, I said : u Get thee 
behind me, Satan." I received a letter from a 
former pastor who had heard of my change. 
He was very upright in his life, and I respected 
him more than any other, though I did not be- 
lieve he was right. He wrote: "When I 
heard you had gone over to Brother D. I could 
but mourn. The influence you might have 
had for good is now lost. You have buried 
yourself. Your usefulness is ended. Souls 
that you might have led to a nobler life will be 
lost. Poor, misguided child ! come back before 
it is too late." I committed this letter with its 
influence to the Lord, who gave me this : "If 
any man preach any other gospel unto you 
than that ye have received, let him be accursed ;' ' 
and I said : "The preaching of this pastor did 
not save me, and the gospel I have now received 
did not come by man, but by the Holy Ghost, 
and I will follow it so long as it is approved by 
the truth." 

Then the man with whom I lived talked with 
me for several hours to enlighten me on the 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 57 

Mrm I would do myself and the world by con- 
tinuing on in this way, and finally said: " For 
several years I suffered much in my mind over 
these things, and some years ago I came to a 
point where I w^as obliged to decide for or 
against Brother D. After deliberating prayer- 
fully I came to the conclusion that he lacked 
charity, and exhibited a harsh spirit. I then 
felt it duty to labor with him, and promised to 
do so." I asked him if he had fulfilled his 
promise. "No, I have not," he replied. I 
thought a man who for several years has lived 
in disobedience to what he allowed to be a 
known duty, could not be a child of God, and 
as / saw no lack of charity or harshness, I could 
still see no good reason for going back as I was 
so earnestly urged to do. I weighed well the 
testimonies I had received from these persons, 
but not a Scripture did they bring as an argu- 
ment against my course, and all their entreaties 
were not that they feared the loss of my soul, 
but the loss of my influence. What had my 
influence been but like theirs, to cry, "Peace, 
peace, where God had not spoken peace ?" 

One evening a number of young people came 
in to have a social time and to sing Sabbath- 
school hymns and modern religious songs. 
They called on me to play, which I did, though 
hardly satisfied I was doing right while play- 
ing. I could think of nothing but " The peo- 



58 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

pie sat down to eat and drink and rose up to 
play;" and those songs seemed like dancing 
tunes to me, and yet, as there was religious 
sentiment in them, I supposed it right to join. 
But all night and the next day I suffered until 
I decided that was the last time I should play 
for such a gathering or sing such songs. On 
relating this to Mr. D. he said : "This kind 
of ditty singing is a product of the spurious 
Christianity that is abroad in the land. No 
spiritually minded person can give any coun- 
tenance to it. There are hymns written by 
persons who God inspired, and that are adapted 
to all true worship and applicable to all phases 
of Christian experience; the foundation of 
such hymns are Bible truths arranged as poetry, 
without affecting the meaning; so that to sing 
such with the spirit and understanding is as 
much real worship as prayer; the tune, also, 
should correspond in time and measure with 
the sentiment, as many times the divine influ- 
ence of the hymn is destroyed by an unsuitable 
tune. 



OF GEORGE DtHSTKLE. 59 



CHAPTER III. 

As I became better acquainted with Mr.. D. 
I asked him if he believed any mortal being 
could become infallible. He replied : s ' No. 
Only an insane person or a very wicked one 
would ever claim such a state. God alone is 
infallible, and every saved soul is dependent on 
him for wisdom to guide, strength to obey, and 
grace to endure. We know nothing of God 
only as he reveals himself to us; the deeper 
the experience the more perfect this depend- 
ence; we become like the Savior in nothing 
but purity, simplicity and submission. His 
omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent char- 
acter belongs to himself alone; and man who 
was made of dust, though he were given an 
ability godlike in its nature, capable of under- 
standing divinity as far as revealed, and free 
to choose good or evil, should never assume 
equality with his Maker save in moral purity, 
which he obtains only through the free gift of 
God. Man's proper position is shown in the 
words, ' If I your Lord and Master have washed 
your feet, ye ought to wash one another's feet,' 



60 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

showing an example of the deepest humility, 
not only to God, but also to one another." 

He then spoke of the opposition he had en- 
dured so many years, and the light in which 
he was held by those opposing him. I said : 
" I suppose many of the leaders labored with 
you to convince you of what they believed 
were errors ?" He replied: " In all these fif- 
teen or twenty years no person ever came to 
labor with me, or even intimated to my face 
that I might be going astray or was in danger of 
being deceived, although I knew there was a 
great deal of such conversation behind my back. 
At first I was grieved that so many things were 
falsified; but I remembered how they miscon- 
strued the Savior's words that he spoke of his 
body, ' Destroy this temple, and in three days I 
wall raise it up,' charging him with blasphemy 
against the temple. After a time I saw that all 
manner of evil must be said against me falsely, 
for Christ's sake; then I rejoiced and was glad 
I was worthy to suffer anything for his name." 
I asked : u Can it be that the ' Father' never 
tried to turn you ¥ ' He replied : ' ' Never; and 
in my last conversation with him 1 said: ' You 
and I have lived neighbors a good many years; 
we have worshiped in the same house; I have 
never said aught against you as a man or a 
professed Christian; I have not gone behind 
your back and tried to destroy your influence; 



OF GEORGE DUTJKLE. 61 

but what have you done ? If you honestly be- 
lieved I was in error, why did you not, as a 
Christian brother, come to me and tell me? In- 
stead you have gone behind my back and said 
all that was possible to prejudice others against 
me, not even regarding the truth to make your 
charges stronger. I have now said this to your 
face; after this I shall feel at liberty to answer 
truthfully any questions I may be asked about 
you.' This is why I have frankly answered 
you to-day. Ministers have been here, days at 
a time, when I knew them to be enemies at 
heart, but not one ever showed his colors to my 
face." 

Of the persons who attended these meetings, 
few are prominently connected with the further 
history of this work, but there are some to 
whom reference will occasionally be made. 
Most of these were professing the fullness of 
God's love, and, in my simplicity, I supposed 
there were here, at least, none but true Chris- 
tians; but I soon found that human nature was 
the same the world over, and, in the course of 
time, I saw Judas among the disciples, and the 
dissensions of the primitive churches repeated. 
As I associated with them I could see their 
conversation was not in heaven as truth re- 
quired, and these inconsistencies were the 
cause of much reproach, which always fell on 
Mr. D., who bore it as patiently as that which 



62 . RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

came from without. He was not ignorant of 
this state of affairs, and continued to labor 
day and night, reproving, rebuking and exhort- 
ing, publicly and privately, if by any means he 
might save some; and while his labors were fol- 
lowed by the faithfulness of some, more pur- 
sued a wavering course, or turned wholly back. 
Of all those who professed belief in what he 
taught at the time I joined them, very few were 
living in the light and power of it. There had 
been a weekly prayer-meeting appointed at the 
house where that lady and I lived, by the pas- 
tor of Hopewell church, and as she had a duty 
connected with it I will relate her experience 
in her own words : "I was faithful after my 
restoration, and it was not long before I realized 
that the truths which had been my satisfaction 
no longer afforded me any joy, and I began to 
feel a longing desire for something more. I 
prayed to know the cause of this, and these 
words came to me, ' Blessed are they who hun- 
ger and thirst after righteousness, for they 
shall be filled;' and I thought this meant the 
advancement I had heard talked. The pastor 
called and asked me : ' How are you getting 
along ¥ I told him my feelings and the truth 
given me, in which I saw advanced light, and 
supposing him to be a teacher of righteousness, 
looked for instruction, but what was my sur- 
prise when he said : ' My dear sister, you had 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 63 

better be satisfied with, your present state and 
not think of anything more.' But said I : 
4 What shall I do with my feelings and the 
truth V He replied : 'It would have been far 
better for me if I had never sought for any ad- 
vancement. 5 

"The next Sunday I went to Mr. D.'s meet- 
ing. He asked me the same question, to which. 
I gave the same reply; but what different in- 
structions he gave me. He said : ' Your feel- 
ings are conviction, and the truth implies ad- 
vancement. ' I told him what the pastor said 
to me, to which he replied : ' Is it possible 
that any man professing to be a teacher would 
give such instruction V He warned me to be- 
ware of it, and exhorted me to hold on to the 
truth until I knew its import. I resolved, as I 
had been converted through Mr. D.'s help, I 
would heed his present advice." 
"The night after that social singing party I 
was very much troubled in my mind. I asked 
the Lord to show me his will, and these truths 
came to me, " Ye cannot serve God and mam- 
mon;" " Know ye not that the friendship of 
the world is enmity with God ? Whosover there- 
fore will be a friend of the world is the enemy 
of God." I decided my friends henceforth 
should be the friends of the Lord. But who 
were the Mends of the Lord ? I went to the 
church and to Mr. D.'s, too, to worship. I knew 



64 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

they each moved in a different element that 
was constantly at variance, and could not both 
be right. I thought of this truth : " If God be 
God, serve him; but if Baal be God, serve him." 
I had to decide between the two. I thought it 
over and over. At last I said, all the influence 
and instruction I received from the church, 
though I heeded it, did not bring me to con- 
version, but that from Mr. D.'s did; afterward 
when I went to the church and received them, 
I lost it; when I went back to Mr. D.'s I was 
restored. In view of these facts I decided Mr. 
D. was right. I now felt it my duty to hon- 
estly confess what I had seen and make the 
separation God required. I waited until the 
prayer- meeting at our house, when I testified 
to the light given me; I declared I could have 
no further confidence in that which had only 
done me harm. 

( * At the close of my testimony there was per- 
fect silence for a short time, when the pastor 
closed the meeting — the last held there while 
we remained. This had been a great cross, and 
after bearing it the Lord blessed me as never 
before, and led me on, until one Sunday, while 
returning from the meeting, I felt the change I 
had been seeking, and these words were given 
me: "Now are ye clean through the word 
which I have spoken unto you." 
That pastor came to Mr. D.'s meeting one 



OF GEOKGE DTTNKLE. 65 

night and, in testimony, referred to an experi- 
ence lie had soon after becoming acquainted 
with Brother D. He said : "I felt convicted 
for a deeper work of grace, and sought and 
found it to the joy and satisfaction of my soul, 
but never spoke of it before because of some- 
thing said by Mr. A., which injured my feel- 
ings very much, and I decided to let the doc- 
trine of holiness entirely alone and labor for 
the conversion of sinners." Mr. D. replied: 
" According to his own testimony the brother 
is a fallen spirit, and unless he gets back that 
evidence he lost by not confessing it, he is a 
lost soul forever, and the idea of a graceless 
man laboring for the salvation of sinners is a 
false one. A person who has left the Lord has 
no business preaching at all, and should 're- 
member from whence he is fallen, and repent, 
and do his first works, or I will come unto him 
quickly and remove his candlestick out of its 
place, except he repent. ' ' ' 

The pastor was evidently much stirred, and 
said: "I am glad you are not my judge." 
The meeting continued with great power and 
profit. The next week he came again, but re- 
tired before the meeting began, and did not 
come out for breakfast until after prayers the 
next morning. He never came again. 

I was now obliged to return to my home in 
an adjoining county, and for several months 



b6 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

saw none of those who were so dear to me in 
the Lord. I had felt it duty, soon after my 
restoration, to write to a business man living 
near my home, whose wife and I had been very 
intimate friends. I wrote of the change, the 
joy and love I had realized, and exhorted him 
to secure the witness lest death, coming sud- 
denly, might find him unprepared. I attended 
church and testified to the power of saving 
grace, and though I could not see any evidence 
of saving faith in the place, yet I felt it my 
duty to continue going. One night as we were 
passing out of church that business man came 
to me and spoke of my letter, what conviction 
it gave him, and that he could get no relief 
until he went to the Bible; and after seeking 
according to its teachings, had now found the 
witness of acceptance with God, and was filled 
with joy and praise. His testimony found a 
response in my heart. 

A protracted meeting was now started, and 
though there were a few who came forward for 
prayers, nothing was accomplished. A nephew 
of mine, a young man, was among the seekers. 
At the close of the meeting one evening he came 
to me in tears, and asked what to do to find 
the Lord. I directed him to the Bible, and ex- 
horted him to look entirely away from the sur- 
roundings to God alone. 

While we were talking some one near began 



OF GEORGE DTTIN'KLE. 67 

singing, in which those remaining in the church 
joined. At its close the power of the Lord 
came upon me, and I knelt down and began to 
pray what the Spirit gave me. How long I 
prayed or for what I do not know, but when I 
ceased nearly every one in the house was pray- 
ing as for life, and every professor, except that 
business man, was confessing their backslid- 
ings, and several young persons were praying 
for forgiveness. 

The meeting closed about midnight, and in 
the course of a few days a number were con- 
verted and several restored, among whom was 
the wife of that business man; and what seemed 
strange to me, they were all in union with me, 
and often asked me for direction. Satan was 
not idle all this time, and the converts were 
warned against me as a dangerous person. 

One young lady asked me if I had confidence 
in a certain man, who was very active in the 
meeting and professed great friendship. I re- 
plied : ; ' Why do you ask me?" ' ; Because, ' ' 
she said, " you directed me to the Bible, and it 
saved me and keeps me in God's love; but he 
told me to beware of you as a person partially 
insane. ' ' I exhorted her to always heed God' s 
Word, and that would keep her from every 
snare. It was Friday evening, and we called at 
that business man's house, and several others 
who were in sympathy with us happened in, 



68 



BELIGIOTJS EXPERIENCE 



and we spent some time in conversation on ex- 
perience, and Scriptures that had been given 
us, and parted after prayers. 

The next Friday night we all went again, 
and continued to do so with great profit to all, 
until division came, which left me again alone. 

One night an old class leader came to me and 
said: "I have been very much affected by 
your testimonies and feel dissatisfied with my 
state. How did you obtain what you now en- 
joy V I told him, and he began seeking; but 
when he saw it would place him in opposition 
to the church, he shrank from the cross and 
fell back into the rut. These words came to' 
me: "He feedeth on ashes, a deceived heart 
hath turned him aside that he cannot deliver 
his soul." 

Another man asked my prayers in his behalf, 
saying he felt the need of a deeper work of 
grace. This Scripture was given me: "Ye 
dissembled in your heart when ye sent me unto 
the Lord your God, saying, pray for us, 55 
which I found to be true. We who met on 
Friday night had often spoken of another state 
of grace which I advocated, but did not claim, 
as the truth said : i c Leave the principles of 
the doctrine of Christ, and go onto perfection," 
and many testimonies were given showing such 
a desire. 

This seemed to displease the minister, and 



OF GEOKGE BUCKLE. 69 

one nig lit my nephew said : "I feel God' s 
presence, but have a hungering and thirsting 
after righteousness, that I may have the full- 
ness of God." 

The minister replied: "When souls have God' s 
presence they are fully saved, and should not 
allow Satan to make them uneasy; they should 
be ever hungering and thirsting, and ever being 
filled, but never think of coming to a point 
where they will not thus hunger and thirst; as 
for perfection, there is none, only in love, which 
enables us to have charity for all, and does not 
judge or condemn any one." 

I did not care for the thrust at me, but I did 
feel for those lambs who, if they heeded this, 
would fall into the surrounding indifference, 
and so be lost, so I quoted these truths : " * The 
time will come, says the Scriptures, when they 
will not endure sound doctrine, but shall heap 
to themselves teachers having itching ears, who 
shall turn their ears from the truth to fables;' 
and after all interpretations attached to truth 
by the human mind, the truth that is to judge 
us is truth still, and a belief in adding to or tak- 
ing from it will only add to our condemnation 
in the final day." 

The minister hardly waited for me to be seat- 
ed, when he said, with evident anger: "We 
have heard heresy enough," and immediately 
closed the meeting. 



70 EELIGIOUS EXPEBIEKCE 

This caused great excitement for a time, and 
he was severely criticised by some; but the 
leaven had been sown, and a short time after, 
when in a meeting, I more plainly declared the 
truth I could feel the division, and all but one, 
who before had stood with me, now sided with 
the church, and, after consultation, decided 
that I did lack charity. 

This man, who still remained firm, went sev- 
eral times to Mr. D.'s meetings; and once, when 
the road was under water for quite a distance, 
had so great a desire for the truth that he 
waded through to attend the meeting. He 
realized advancement in grace, but his wife op- 
posed him. He yielded, and went back to the 
church; and though he never claimed to be sat- 
isfied, he preached for that society until his 
death. 

I had now returned to the neighborhood of 
the meetings. Mrs. B. was the one who was 
restored at the same time as myself — a very 
honest-hearted woman, but easily influenced. 
Her husband had known much of grace, and 
was led along until he came to the point of de- 
liverance from the carnal mind, when he was 
foiled in some way and lost his conviction 
without realizing it. He went on making a 
profession, and one day Mr. D. said to him: 
" Brother B., unless you get back your convic- 
tion and realize what you were convicted for> 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 71 

you are a lost soul." He hung liis head in 
silence, and for some time showed deep feeling, 
but never gained that point. Three of the 
children — young people — professed religion, 
but gave no evidence of a change. One daugh- 
ter claimed all she had heard taught, but seemed 
to be the same unchanged girl. 

After a time Mr. B. felt the influence irksome, 
and desiring to get away that he might "the 
better use his talents," moved to another coun- 
ty, where he died. Mrs. B. used to come back 
occasionally, as her confidence was still here, 
but always in a fallen state, and until the last 
time was always restored, and went home hap- 
py in the Lord. After she was restored the last 
time she said: "Now I know why, when I 
go away from here, I always fall. I give coun- 
tenance to the worship in my family, which is 
only by fallen spirits. I see it duty to refuse 
to kneel." She was encouraged to follow the 
Lord at the expense of everything, and she 
went home. When I saw her afterward she 
said : " The cross was too heavy, and I finally 
thought it was not duty." u But do you feel 
satisfied V said I. " No, I do not," she re- 
plied. I did not see her for many years, when 
it was the same testimony, " I do not feel satis- 
fied." 

Mrs. C. was the woman who first invited me 
to Mr. D.'s meeting — an intelligent woman of 



72 EELIGIOUS EXPEKIENCE 

pleasing address, but very worldly- minded. 
She had once known grace, but did not now 
claim to be in favor with God. I used to stay 
with her when in that neighborhood. She was 
a great reasoner and exerted an influence few 
could withstand, unless aware of it. She was 
not at heart a friend of Mr. D., as I found to 
my sorrow. She would never say anything 
against him in a direct way, but, on the con- 
trary, would stand in his defense when he was 
assailed in her hearing, but would, by insinua- 
tions (those most powerful of all weapons) at- 
tack his faith. 

By her professed confidence in his doctrine 
and love for me, I was thrown off my guard, 
and fell under her influence. I was not aware 
of my state for a long time, though I was con- 
scious of great suffering of mind, and a feeling 
of aversion and criticism towards Mr. D. 

As time passed on I felt worse and worse, 
and finally spoke to her about it. She com- 
forted me by saying : "I feel the same; but 
we must be made perfect through suffering." 
My comfort was like the morning dew, lasting 
but an hour. 

One day Mr. D. called, saying: " I felt it 
duty to say something to you." I never could 
remember what he said, but he drew the line 
so close that I saw myself in the broad way, 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 73 

and felt so discouraged that I said : "If what 
you say is true, I cannot see how I can ever be 
saved." He replied : " God will hold you re- 
sponsible for obedience to the truth, and if you 
will not obey you must suffer the consequences. ' ' 
He then went away. I went immediately to 
my room and wept for a long time. The arrow 
had gone home, and I felt its convicting power. 
"I cried unto the Lord in my distress, and he 
heard me." I asked him to show me what I 
had done to drive him from me, and the first 
truth he gave me was this : " Whose end is 
destruction, who mind earthly things," etc. I 
there saw Mrs. C. ; there was nothing in which 
she showed so much interest as her household 
affairs, their little property, and an effort to 
get more. 

Afterward this truth came to me : " Having 
men's persons in admiration because of advant- 
age." I could clearly see she followed with 
Mr. D., not because of the doctrine, but for the 
loaves and fishes — the favors daily received 
from him. 

I was greatly astonished at this light, but 
took my position with the truth, which made a 
great gulf between us, which she endeavored in 
many ways to bridge over ; but I could not be 
trapped again, and the way soon opened for 
me to go to spend a few weeks wdth Mrs. F., a 
lady who had been benefited by the foolishness 



74 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

of Mr. D.'s preaching. She used to sing day 
after day : 

" But be sure you gain the witness, 
Which abides both day and night ; 
This your God hath surely promised, 
This is as a stream of light ." 

When she sang the last line I could see she 
felt it, and I could not help feeling I was with- 
out it, and I sought earnestly to God to show 
me what to do or what position to take to re- 
gain it. 

One night these truths came to me : " Thy 
Maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his 
name." "The married woman careth for the 
things of the world, that she may please her 
husband; the unmarried woman careth for the 
things of the Lord, that she may be holy both 
in body and spirit." And Paul, by his judg- 
ment, concluded that those without family 
cares were happier and more free for the service 
of the Lord. ' ' But all men cannot receive this 
saying, save they to whom it is given." In 
committing myself to these truths, I again 
realized G-od's approval, "like a stream of 
light." 



OF GEOKGE DUKKLE. 75) 



CHAPTER IV. 

Duty now called me away from those with 
whom I was in fellowship, for several months, 
I intended to live strictly in obedience to Gf-od 
wherever my lot was cast. I labored to have 
my deportment in conformity with truth, and. 
I might say my chief concern was to live a 
blameless life, believing this to be most pleas- 
ing to God. 

One Sabbath these words came to me with 
force : ; ' Except your righteousness exceed the 
righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye 
shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heav- 
en.' 5 and several texts that spoke of the right- 
eousness which is by faith. I knew what was 
meant by conversion, but righteousness by faith 
I did not understand. I had never heard an 
advanced state spoken of by that term, and I 
was away from any who might have explained 
it to me; but I felt convicted. Here was a truth 
that would judge me in the final day, of which 
I knew nothing. I was righteous outwardly 
because I would do right, but inward righteous- 
ness by faith I was as ignorant of as were the 
Scribes and Pharisees. 



76 BELIGIOTTS EXPERIENCE 

The truth said it was obtained by faith; but 
faith in what % was the question. I could not 
solve it, and went to God for help, who gave 
me this truth : "Who shall ascend into the 
hill of the Lord ? who shall stand in his holy 
place? He that hath clean hands and a pure 
heart; who hath not lifted up his hands to 
vanity, nor sworn deceitfully; he shall receive 
the blessing from the Lord and righteousness 
from the God of his salvation.' 5 " Israel fol- 
lowed after righteousness, but did not attain it, 
because they sought it by works." " But the 
Gentiles following after it attained to it be- 
cause they sought it by faith." 

For several months I continued the effort of 
believing these promises, resolved to continue 
until I knew their saving import. I will pass 
over in silence the buff e tings of Satan and the 
persecutions of the world during this time. 

I now came back within a few miles of Mr. 
D.'s and boarded for a time in the family of Mr. 
E. They had attended Mr. D.'s meeting, been 
convinced of the truth, and were benefited; but 
the cross that takes reputation and the friend- 
ship of the world was refused, and they turned 
back/and he became destitute of all self-re- 
spect, and finally lost his reason — a manifest 
judgment of God because of disobedience to 
known duty. I met Mr. D. on my way there, 
who greatly encouraged me in my effort to ob- 
tain what I was convicted for. 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 77 

My trials for some time after going there were 
great, but my determination was greater, and 
one night after going to my room I felt what I 
can only describe in the simple way it came to 
me. It was like sparks of refining fire going 
through my heart, consuming the unrighteous- 
ness therein; a quiet joy was there and a light 
I never knew before. For days I sang : 

"Now will I tell to sinners round 
What a dear Savior /have found, 
And point to his redeeming blood 
And cry, " Behold the way to God." 

I knew I had what I had been convicted for, 
and though it came to me in different truth 
from others, yet I knew what a ' fc deeper work 
of grace" was. 

One Sunday the way opened for me to go to 
Mr. D.'s, so that I could confess what I had 
realized; and 0, how the Lord did pour his 
love into my soul; the instructions seemed es- 
pecially for me, and I realized great strength 
therefrom. He spoke of the snares Satan is 
constantly setting for us, and the necessity of 
watching and praying. I was greatly impressed 
by this, though unaware that many snares were 
already set for me, from which God most sig- 
nally delivered me. I returned to Mr. E.'s 
after the meeting. The whole family being 
present, I told them what God had done for my 
soul, and my present enjoyment. 



78 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

One by one they all left the room but Mr. 
TE.; and by the manner of the children, I thought 
he gave them some sign to do so, as it was a 
strange proceeding. I remembered what I had 
heard that day, and looked to God. After a 
moment's silence, he said : "You believe in all 
being led by the Spirit, do you not ?" " Yes, 
if it is the Holy Spirit," I replied. Fixing his 
eyes insultingly on me, he said : u The Spirit 
leads me to kiss you." I met his eyes with a 
flash of indignation, which was supported by 
the power of this truth, "Even the devils are 
subject to us through thy name." I said not 
a word, but continued looking steadily at him, 
until he dropped his head and left the room. 

I lifted my heart in praise to God for deliver- 
ance, and went to my room, spending the night 
in prayer for God's protecting care, and left 
the house the next day. 

Mrs. E. was a woman of very upright princi- 
ples, and had always treated me kindly, and 
thought it strange that I left without assigning 
any reason for doing so, as did also many in 
the vicinity; but I explained to no one, and 
time soon justified my course to all. 

I met Mr. D. the next day, who said : "I do 
not like to interfere in your matters, but I feel 
impressed that you ought to get a new board- 
ing place." 

There was an old man going about the coun- 



OF GEORGE DUJSTKLE. 79 

try at this time notorious for his Freelove prin- 
ciples, whom no one of respectability would 
receive or aid. He came to that "Fathers," 
and, after defining his views, was directed to 
Mr. D.'s as a place where his doctrine might 
be received. He came, a perfect stranger, at 
meeting time. Mr. D. treated him courteously, 
as he always did every one. His testimony in 
the meeting was this: "God has sent me 
around to declare that we are no longer sub- 
ject to the Word; it is the time of the spiritual 
dispensation, and the Spirit alone is to govern 
and lead us; so it is as much folly to be sub- 
ject to the Scriptures as to go back under the 
Mosaic law of rites and ceremonies." 

Mr. D. replied : " There are many spirits in 
the world which we are commanded to try; 
what have we left to try them by if we reject 
the Word? The Holy Spirit and the Word 
agree; this Word was made flesh and dwelt 
among us, and has made an atonement for our 
sins, and whosoever rejects the Son is anti- 
Christ, and behold ! there are many in the 
world. ' Man shall not live by bread alone, but 
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth 
of God.' 'Thy word have I hid in my heart 
that I might not sin against thee,' and they 
only are left to believe a lie who receive not 
the love of the truth. God forbid we should 
ever be so unwise as to reject the only means of 
our salvation." 



80 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

The old man went away and came back the 
next day. Mr. D. met him at the door with 
these words: " The doctrine you hold forbids 
me receiving you into my house or bidding you 
God- speed." 

The old man said: u The Spirit told me just 
before reaching here that you would turn me 
out of doors." 

Mr. D. said: "The Spirit did not tell you 
so as he knew I would not allow you to come 
in." 

Mr. D. felt as though God' s all-seeing eye had 
indeed led him when he found out the true 
character of this man; and that during his stay 
in a momentary absence of the family from the 
room, he had proposed to greet the girl who 
worked for them with a holy kiss. 

Mrs. F. is the lady from the village who in the 
early part of this work was mentioned as having 
been benefited, and afterward became very un- 
truthful. I met her now of tener than any of my 
Hopewell friends; and as I had been benefited 
by her and she claimed a special attachment for 
me, we often went to the meeting and other 
places together. After a time she seemed 
changed; she became harsh in spirit and rude 
in manners to those whom we met who were 
not in sympathy with us. I was often mortified 
and grieved, not believing that a true Christian 
spirit. I spoke to her about it, but she reproved 



OF GEOBGE DUKKLE. 81 

me, and said: " Mr. D. teaches that salvation 
is separation, and this is the way to keep the 
precious from the vile." 

She soon began criticising Mr. D., saying: 
"He has too much forbearance with fallen 
spirits and gives them more conntenance than 
he ought;" claiming the Lord showed her this. 

She then said : " God revealed to me that 
he would never send any one to reprove me 
who was beneath me in experience, and that I 
have more light and grace than Mr. D., and can 
see that he does not walk up to the truth as 
he should." She told this to two other ladies 
who were in grace, and drew them away with 
her for a time. I would not be influenced 
against Mr. D., having before this suffered the 
loss of my evidence by so doing. 

Wot a word of all this came to Mr. D., as she 
was very affable to his face. I knew not what 
to do, being yet but a babe in Christ, and not 
well understanding the wiles of Satan. It did 
not seem possible she was wicked enough to 
say, u God showed me all this," if it was not 
true, and yet I knew there was no wrong in 
Mr. D., so I looked to the Lord and waited. 

One day when Mrs. F. was absent, Mr. D. said : 
U I feel that my days are fast being numbered; 
and though I do not pretend to know when 
God may call me, I now feel like making a re- 
quest of you, who will probably live to see me 



82 KELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

carried to my last resting place. Do not call a 
minister from any denomination to officiate at 
my funeral; any one of you who have access to 
the throne of grace can offer a simple prayer, 
and you can all sing, ' Who are these arrayed 
in white,' etc. Do not invite any of my rela- 
tives or enemies, but let all be done by my 
friends, quietly, and with simplicity." 

When I next saw Mrs. F. I told her of Mr. 
D.'s request. She saw him in a day or two, 
and said: " Brother D., I have had a revela- 
tion from the Lord that you are about to die, 
and that you must not have a preacher at your 
funeral, but that one of us must read a chapter 
from the Bible, and pray, and sing a hymn." 

When I came to the meeting next Sunday 
Mr. D. told me of Mrs. F.'s revelation. I was 
horrified, and finally told him that I was the 
one who revealed it to her. His only reply 
was, ' ' Can it be possible V ' 

In a few days I saw her, when she claimed 
another revelation, — "That all the appetites 
and desires of man's physical existence were 
destroyed when salvation was realized," and 
that this was fully corroborated by Mr. D. 

The next Sunday Mr. D. said : "I feel it a 
duty to speak on a subject to-day that belongs 
in the whole counsel of God, which I shall never 
shun to declare as it is revealed to me by the 
Holy Ghost. When God made man out of the 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 83 

dust of the earth and breathed into him the 
breath of life, he pronounced a blessing upon 
him; by man's disobedience he lost not only 
the divine image of the soul, but the perfection 
of the body. The provision God made to atone 
for this is found in Christ' s death and resurrec- 
tion ; his death to restore the soul to its original 
purity, his resurrection to bring the body back 
to its perfection, so that in the future state of 
existence ' Soul and body shall his glorious im- 
age bear.' In this life the soul, to enjoy Scrip- 
tural salvation, must, through the provision, be 
freed from its depravity, but the body not un- 
til ' this mortal shall put on immortality.' All 
the God-given desires and appetites of the 
body are lawful, but should be controlled and 
governed by the will as enlightened by grace, 
so that God does not destroy any part of his 
creation, but rather separates from it that which 
was the work of the evil one. These things are 
clearly explained in Scripture if there be eyes 
to see and a heart to understand. The ex- 
tremes to which some persons suffer themselves 
to be led are but the work of Satan, who cares 
not what means he makes use of to destroy 
them." 

I was always slow to lose confidence in one 
whom I had believed upright, but now I had to 
see Mrs. F. was not only deluded, but untruth- 
iul ; yet I looked, hoping there might be some 



84 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

mitigating circumstances or misunderstanding- 
to relieve this awful picture. 

The next day I opened the Bible to the his- 
tory of "Uzziah who was made king at the age 
of sixteen, and did that which was right in the 
sight of God, whomarvelously helped him until 
he was strong, when his heart was lifted up to 
his destruction and he took upon himself to 
burn incense, which was not lawful but for the 
priests." There I saw Mrs. F. She was mar- 
velously helped of God when she was humble, 
but when she became exalted and took upon 
herself to teach when she was in need of being 
taught; and being lifted up with pride fell into 
the delusion of the devil until she had become 
untruthful. 

When next I met her I asked her before Mr. 
D. and others, "Why did you tell such a false- 
hood about Mr. D.'s funeral, claiming it to be 
a revelation from God, when I was the one who 
told you?" She replied: "I only meant the 
reading of the chapter." I then told her all I 
had seen. She was much offended, and told 
Mr. D. that " She that had eaten bread with 
her had lifted up her heel against her," and 
'went away. 

For a long time she was not seen by any of 
us, but at last she came back repentant, asking 
our prayers. Mr. D. prayed for the Holy Ghost 
to be given her, which she received. "Now," 



OF GEORGE DTJKKLE. 85 

said he, "for the confessions." After waiting 
a few moments, she drew herself haughtily up, 
saying: "I have no confessions to make." 
She left us after trying in vain to get some 
countenance; and then wrote repeatedly to Mr. 
D. inviting him to call, which he refused to do, 
and she finally went back to the old church she 
l^ad left years before. She circulated many un- 
truthful reports about us, which we bore pa- 
tiently for Christ's sake, and left her with her 
God. 

Mr. D. once spoke of marriage in these words: 
tc It is an institution ordained of God, and if 
persons who are right are led into such a con- 
tract, God' s blessing is upon it; but unless thus 
led, it would be better to follow Paul's course, 
of singly devoting himself to the service of the 
Lord; but saved persons thus uniting with un- 
saved ones not only bring upon themselves God' s 
disapproval, but a life of sorrow and trouble ; 
c So, let every one abide in the calling wherein 
he is called,' not seeking for any change, but 
with a single eye, follow the Lord whitherso- 
ever he leads. ' ' I had now become established 
in all the grace I had received, and been tested 
on all points relating to it; had heard advance- 
ment taught, but had, as yet, no conviction for 
it. 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 



CHAPTER V. 

One day a lady, alone in lier carriage, drove 
to the door. Upon being invited in she said : 
u I have heard of you, and wish to hear the 
truth. Can you communicate it to me if I 
withhold my name V ' He replied : ' ' Oh, yes, 
I am willing to do so. ' ' He then told her of 
man's sinful, depraved condition, the provision 
God had made for his redemption, and the sac- 
rifices requisite to its attainment, and God's 
promises of sustaining grace. She listened 
eagerly, and when he ended sat thoughtfully 
a few moments, and said : " And can there be 
no reserve ?" "Not the least," he replied. 

She thanked him for the interview and went 
away. He thought of Mcodemus, who came 
to the Savior by night for fear of the Jews. 

A few months after he met her again at a 
meeting where he had been invited. She there 
told him her name and the reason she with- 
held it when she called. She was staying with 
a family but a few miles away, who were such 
bitter opposers that she dared not let it be 
known that she had called on him. She ad- 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE, 87 

mitted she had heard the only truth she had 
any confidence in, but shrank at the idea of 
" no reserve," and said as they parted : " My 
heart is now like a stone, and I have no feeling 
whatever about my soul." 

I might tell of many, many more who, hearing 
the report of what was here taught, came to see, 
were convinced, convicted and saved, but who, 
when they saw the line drawn without any devi- 
ation from the right, did as many of the disciples, 
" Went back, and walked no more with him." 
I could tell of many others who became dissat- 
isfied with the church because of some personal 
grievance, and, expecting a willing ear for their 
selfish fault-finding, or aid in furthering their 
undertakings, came to Mr. D. To all these he 
held up the Word as a glass into which they 
might look, and if they saw what they did not 
relish they soon found an excuse for leaving. 
This last class seldom came the second time. 
But to all he was the same courteous Christian 
man; and to those who came with an honest 
purpose, they always felt what is implied in 
this truth : " Where the Spirit of the Lord is 
there is liberty." 

Nearly two years had passed rapidly away 
amid all these scenes. Grod had led me into 
the knowledge of many truths, and I was soon 
to see what I had not known before. The 
every day trials of life were severe and begau 



88 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

to produce in me feelings that I did not suppose 
could exist in any one who had realized the 
truths I had. Until recently I had not been 
aware of anything in my heart but what was 
right; but now, in spite of grace and the power 
of my will, I felt many times that which caused 
me to say many things I was afterward sorry 
for. I examined this feeling and found its na- 
ture to be anger, jealousy, or pride, and that it 
came out of my heart. At first I thought I 
must be fallen from grace and that this evil 
had returned to me; but as the days passed on 
I had the witness clear, without a shadow of 
doubt; so that was not the cause. But these 
wicked things were in my heart, and where did 
they come from % I had supjjosed sin was cast 
out root and branch, though no Scripture had 
ever been given me to that effect; and though I 
had been tempted by thousands of wicked 
things, yet I had not, since realizing the right- 
eousness by faith, been conscious of anything 
like this. I was sorely grieved, for I did de- 
light in the law of God in my inmost soul; 
could this be another law waring against me % 

I told Mr. D. my perplexity and grief. He 
asked me if I had retained the evidence of what 
I last realized ? I told him I had. He then 
said : "I will tell you something few will be- 
lieve, but it is strictly Scriptural, and I know 
it by experience. I have never read of it in 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 89 

any work except Madam Guyon's, who clearly 
defines it. There is a third state of grace in 
which a death to sin is realized, and the soul is 
then delivered from things which so trouble 
you. I know when I realized it, and it was as 
clear and distinct as conversion or a pure heart; 
and as there have been few who were faithful 
long enough to see it as you have now, I have 
said but little about it. But there is one girl 
who lived with us for many years, who came 
Monday morning a strict Catholic, and was 
soundly converted Saturday night; she after- 
ward received a pure heart, and then, after 
being faithful for some time, found it as you 
have now, that the evil nature was still in ex- 
istence. I told her of this state, and though at 
first she doubted it being sound doctrine, after- 
ward she was convinced and realized it. Go 
and ask her about it, for ; In the mouth of two 
or three witnesses every word is established.' " 
To say I was astonished does not describe 
my feelings. It was as though one whom I 
had believed incapable of teaching anything 
but the honest truth had in a few moments 
received and declared the most unreasonable, 
unheard-of inconsistency imaginable. Like 
a ship suddenly stopped in its progress, I was 
shocked and so amazed that I could say noth- 
ing, and went away. I was filled with conflict- 
ing emotions. Could it be, after all, that I was 



90 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

deceived in Mr. D. ? And was not this doctrine 
going beyond the truth ? I was beset on every 
side with myriads of evil spirits who tempted 
me in every way, that I would find I was fol- 
lowing a false prophet, and this was but the 
beginning of false doctrine, etc. ; but soon I de- 
cided that Satan would not save me from going 
astray, and I gave place to him, ' i no, not for 
an hour " longer, and turned to the Lord. This 
calmed me and I looked prayerfully at it. Mr. 
D. had believed in this third state before I 
knew him, and yet God showed me he was a 
"teacher of righteousness," and why should 
I condemn what I knew nothing of \ And might 
not a pure heart be a preparatory state to the 
greater change of the nature ? But I could not 
reason it out in this way. Then here was my 
experience — and I could doubt my existence as 
soon as that — and here, too, was the evil I had 
felt. What should I do? Between the per- 
plexity and the depravity I truly felt as though 
weighed down by a body of death. I finally 
concluded to take Mr. D.'s advice, and went to 
see that girl, now a woman of a family, married 
to one whom God warned her against in m&ny 
ways, suffering in every way, destitute of the 
Comforter, and an object of God's displeasure. 
I asked her of the third state of grace. Her 
face brightened as she said : " Yes, I realized 
that, and it was as much greater than a pure 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 91 

heart as a pure heart is greater than conversion, 
all of which were perfectly satisfactory to me* 
I at first doubted and reasoned whether it was 
an orthodox doctrine, but I was convinced I 
had the evil nature in possession, which was a 
greater argument than any I could reason out, 
so I committed myself to it and realized it : a 
death to sin, and my will was lost in the will 
of God. This was before I married. I told it 
to Mrs. C, who advised me never to speak of 
it to any one, so I kept it hid in my heart, not 
giving God the glory due to his holy name, 
though for a long time he impressed truths 
upon me to show me it was duty, and finally 
he left me ; and afterwards I married, and am 
now suffering the righteous judgments of God 
for not obeying the truth. Do not doubt there 
is such a state. I am a fallen spirit, but testify 
that I once knew its light and power." 

I left her and went away, thoughtfully say- 
ing : Shall I reject these things when I have 
no reason for believing them false, only that I 
never had heard of the doctrine ? Did not the 
Savior teach doctrines new and strange, and 
many turned back because of them % Shall I 
also go away % If I go back it is death; if I 
remain where I am it is the end of progress. I 
could but die by going on, so I looked to the 
Lord who gave me this truth in Deuteronomy : 
"How shall we know the word which the Lord 



92 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

hath not spoken? When a prophet speak- 
eth in the name of the Lord, if the thing fol- 
low not or come to pass, that is the thing which 
the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet 
hath spoken presumptuously, thou shalt not 
be afraid of him." And I said: " All that 
Mr. D. has taught up to this time has come to 
pass to them that believed and obeyed it. I 
will believe this report, and then when the arm 
of the Lord is revealed to me I also shall 
be a witness." But as yet I had no conviction 
and decided to wait on the Lord. For several 
weeks nothing special was given me, and then 
for days these words were often before me: 
' ' Will you obey me V ' I replied : ' ' Yes, Lord, 
I will." Then again the words would come, 
" Will you obey me in all things ?" and I would 
again say, " Yes, Lord, in all things." This 
was so often repeated that I began to think 
there must be some awful test or trial awiating 
me, and that the Lord was thus preparing me 
for it by such a committal. One day it came 
to me about " Elijah who, as he slept under the 
juniper tree, was told by the angel to rise and 
eat, which he did, when the angel told him to , 
eat the second time for the journey was great." 
It gave me a feeling of great care and deter- 
mination to do all the will of God at any cost. 
I was now at home, teaching a school nearby. 
The care of a family of five depended mostly 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 93 

on my earnings, and as there had been several 
teachers before me who had failed, I desired 
greatly to succeed, as my reputation as a teach- 
er was at stake. I had very flattering success 
from the very beginning, and was highly com- 
plimented by the leading person in the place. 
How little I knew what God had in store for 
me ! 

The family were professing Christians and 
had evening prayers, in which I had always 
taken part. One night in a conversation in 
which the plain truths of God were rejected,. 
I felt an aversion to joining in their worship. 
I at first thought it a suggestion to the mind, 
but after a while, being reminded of my promise 
to obey God in all things, I saw I had a duty 
in the matter, though I waited on the Lord, 
praying for help to keep me from following 
any spirit but the Holy One. It was a great 
cross, but I told them I did not in any way 
wish to interfere with their worship, but they 
must excuse me from joining. They were 
much grieved and abandoned it. I was very 
much blest after this, and could see a gulf be- 
tween the world and myself growing wider. 

I now felt it my duty to close my school by 
prayer, and as I already opened it in like man- 
ner in the morning, I knew it would be con- 
sidered a very strange procedure, and would also 
be a blow at my prosperity. I began to tremble 



94 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

with apprehension, not knowing what would 
come next, and if God had not poured a double 
portion of the Spirit on me I should never 
have gone through. I knew Satan could not give 
the love of God, and as that filled my soul I 
determined to go on. At the close of that day 
the scholars looked at me queerly as they 
kindly bid me ' ' Good night. " In a day or two, 
as I called a class, I felt I should ask God' s 
blessing on its members, which I did in a few- 
words, kneeling. All were pale when I arose 
and resumed the exercises. I knew my course 
was severely criticised, which I did not won- 
der at, and insanity began to be intimated, 
and though I could not yet see any design, I 
kept a single eye and followed on. The hard- 
est was yet to come. Friday as I called the 
' class in grammar God said to me : ' ' Would 
you be willing to give up teaching this if I re- 
quired it ?" My heart stood still! What an 
insane idea ! What did it mean ? What rea- 
son could I give for such an act, and Oh, I could 
not look at it now, and went on with the duties 
of the day. 

On going home I went immediately to my 
room, but not to sleep. I saw it all. If any 
duty I had ever done was of the Lord this was, 
and I knew it was no more unreasonable in the 
sight of God than for him to require Abraham 
-to slay his son, or Ezekiel to cut his hair, weigh 



Or GEORGE DU]S T KLE. 95 

and divide it, casting a third part into the fire, 
smiting a third part with a knife, and scatter- 
ing a third part to the winds, etc., with many 
other singular things in the Bible; but there 
was a design in all Grod required, and might 
there not be some wise purpose in all this, the 
most humiliating and trying of all that was ever 
required at my hands ? But in the sight of men 
my business would be gone, my reputation gone, 
and all would regard me as insane or hopeless- 
ly deluded, and, what was worse than all, would 
charge it back on Mr. D. ; not a man, woman or 
child but would ridicule the idea, and I would 
Tbe the jest of the town. I was well enough 
aware I would be obliged to leave the school, 
and then what would I do for a livelihood and 
the maintenance of those dependent on me ? I 
knew also there was not a book written, not 
even the Bible, but that the rules of grammar, 
to a greater or less extent, were observed in its 
construction. Why, then, could I not teach 
it? Oh, talk of the early martyrs ! There is a 
martyrdom in spirit equal to any upon record, 
and during this trying ordeal I was sustained 
as were those who were burned at the stake. 
I did not decided what I would do, but often 
through the night it seemed as though Jesus 
kneeled before me, saying : " Will you?" I 
had planned to go to Hopewell this Saturday 
.afternoon. I went, and when I arrived at Mr, 



96 EELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

D.'s I found Brother A. there, who, after I was 
seated, said: "I called to tell of a singular 
experience I had last night. I saw the Savior 
before a person whom I did not recognize, and 
he kept saying: " Will you? Will you?" 
The person did not reply, but looked sad. I 
thought I would tell it thinking there might 
be a meaning to it." 

Here was another testimony I did not dare 
doubt, for who but God could have shown him 
just what had been given me, and my attitude. 
I said: " Perhaps I can explain what you 
saw," and I related all the dealings of Gfod with 
me since I saw them last. 

Mr. D., in a guarded manner, said : "It is 
not for me to say what is or is not your duty. 
God is his own interpreter, and he will make it 
plain, but I am free to say, that whatever God 
makes known as duty must be obeyed if you 
are ever saved; and simply because what is 
presented may be out of the ordinary way of 
moving, or unreasonable to the natural mind, 
is not proof that it is not right. God often 
leads in such ways for a purpose, as is seen 
many times in the Scriptures. Wait on the 
Lord until you are satisfied it is Ms voice, and 
then obey it at the expense of everything, not 
excepting life itself." I had not needed to be 
convinced of duty, but now said: "Lord, I 
promised obedience and will perform my vows." 



OF GEORGE DOTKLE. 97 

His blessing came upon me so that I fell on my 
knees praising him, and then sang : 

' Jesus, 1 1117 cross have taken, 

x\ll to leave and follow thee; 
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 

Tfiou from hence my all shall be. 
Perish every fond ambition, 

All I've sought, or hoped, or known, 
Yet how rich is my condition, 

God and heaven are still my own." 

The entire hymn was singularly applicable 
to me, and for many weeks different parts of 
it came to me and cheered my heart. Briefly, 
I returned to my school and performed my duty 
tremblingly but yet decidedly. 

Several persons called on me in the evening. 
Among them was the wife of that business 
man, who said : "I could reconcile my son to 
your turning the school into a prayer-meeting, 
but your stand about his grammar I protest 
against." 

One of the school officers also called, and 
kindly urged me to change my mind, offering 
pecuniary inducements for the next term; and 
when he saw he could not move me, he said : 
" I am very sorry, but you will be obliged to 
leave the school, as none in the place will sub- 
mit to the stand you have taken." 

I simply told him I was prepared to do so, 
and gave him the keys, without attempting an 
explanation to any one. Knowing the excite- 



98 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ment this would produce for a time, I thought 
it best to leave, and hearing that Mrs. C. want- 
ed a seamstress, I went there. I now had am- 
ple time to review what I had done, and by 
degrees I could see the design. God had chosen 
me for himself alone, and had required the sac- 
rifice of all that he might mold me after the 
image of his Son. I had a vain ambition to 
gain a reputation superseded by none; and 
when I saw any advance toward that end I was 
pleased and self-satisfied; then, too, there was no 
branch in which I was as proficient as grammar, 
and was always chosen as critic at the literary 
gatherings I attended. This helped to foster 
pride in my heart and a contempt for those 
whose language was defective. I saw how 
wicked this feeling had been and how opposite 
this to the heart of the Savior, who came in the 
lowliest garb and chose his companions from 
the most illiterate class. God had showed his 
love to me the most by requiring that which 
forever destroyed my prospects in this world, 
that I might gain a seat with the Savior in 
the future, and I could see what my feeling 
would have been in heaven, seated by the ig- 
norant disciples, had I been left to pursue my 
way. How thankful I now was at what he had 
taken from me, and T shut my eyes to the world, 
and sang: 

" Vain delusive world adieu, 
With all of creature good/' etc. 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 99 

I now heard from an older sister in whose 
district I had once taught, where I was much 
loved and respected. She had met a man who 
once lived with Mr. D., but against whom he 
had become very bitter. He had come to 
their town recommended by that " Father," 
and had circulated reports defaming the char- 
acter of Mr. D. and all those who came to his 
meeting. When asked for an explanation I 
only replied: "He should not be believed," 
and left it with the Lord. 

Calling one evening at Mr. D.'s, who lived 
but a few rods distant, I was much impressed 
with his explanation of this truth, " Except a 
corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it 
abideth alone; but if it die it*bringeth forth 
much fruit." He said: v " There were some 
who desired to see Jesus, and for an answer 
came these words, as to see him is to see the 
import of this truth, which implies the death of m 
the old nature, from which death springs the 
germ of the new life in Christ Jesus; and ex- 
cept this death is realized there is no fruit unto 
holiness. To rest short of this is to rest in the 
law, which is only our school-master to bring 
us to Christ; and what the law could not do, 
being weak, God sent his Son to accomplish by 
his death. How then shall we escape if we 
neglect so great a salvation V ' 

I had as yet no conviction for, but was a 



100 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE „ 

believer in, a third state of grace, and while 
walking back that night this prayer was in- 
spired in my heart, "Lord show me what I am 
and what I must be." Soon after a figure was 
presented to mind — a man intoxicated, in rags, 
and talking hardly intelligibly but incessantly, 
and near him a little child sitting on the floor, 
its little hands and feet in playful activity, but 
contented and quiet. Here was the answer to my 
prayer — my present condition like that loathe- 
some man; what I must be, as the infant in sim- 
plicity and innocence. What a contrast ! It 
struck conviction to my heart, and I saw the 
meaning of the truth, " The pure in heart shall 
see God," — shall see God's holy character in 
contrast with his own. How few had ever been 
faithful long enough to see this, which thought 
seemed to fill me with great earnestness to at- 
tain all the atonement had provided for me. 

At the next meeting Mr. D. said : ' ' The third 
state of grace is clearly defined by three Scrip- 
tural witnesses, Job, Isaiah and Peter. Job 
was a perfect and an upright man — perfect in 
the state he had attained unto, and upright 
because he had retained the evidence of it. 
God put him into the hands of Satan who sent 
afflictions upon him to humble him, in order 
that he might see himself and God's holiness. 
Job's consequential feeling is clearly seen in 
these words : ' But now they that are young- 



OF GEOBGE DUJSTKLE. 101 

er than I have me in derision, whose fathers 
I would have disdained to have set with the 
dogs of my flock. ' When he had been stripped 
of children, property and health, opposed by 
his wife and tormented by his three friends, 
and in all this sinned not, but held fast to his 
integrity, God revealed himself, and Job an- 
swered and said : ' I have heard of thee by the 
hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee.' 
What was the effect of this light on Job ? ' I 
abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes,' 
because he saw the evil nature he possessed in 
contrast with God' s nature, and after realizing 
the change, God turned his captivity and gave 
him double what had been taken from him. 

." Isaiah was a prophet of great humility, not 
needing such discipline, but was brought to 
the same point, but by other means. He says: 
' Woe is me ! for I am undone; I am a man of 
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a peo- 
ple of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen 
the King the Lord of Hosts.' He saw the 
Lord in contrast with himself as Job did. 
' Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, hav- 
ing a live coal in his hand which he had taken 
with the tongs from off the altar, and he laid it 
upon my mouth and said, Lo ! this hath touched 
thy lips and thine iniquity is taken away, and 
thy sin is purged. ' After that he was ready 
to hear the voice of God, and said : ' Here am 
I, send me.' 



102 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

u Peter's experience, though different still, 
led to the same point. The Lord said : ' Si- 
mon, Satan hath desired to have thee, to sift 
thee as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that 
thy faith fail not, and when thou art converted 
strengthen thy brethren.' Peter did not un- 
derstand he had a nature that, 'When he 
would do good evil was present with him, ' which 
would lead him to do evil when he would do 
good, so he felt ready to go with the Savior to 
prison or to death, and did n^t know he would 
so soon deny him; but after being sifted and 
converted, (which here implies the destruction of 
the evil nature) he was prepared to ' strengthen 
his brethren.' " 

The Spirit had now begun a work in my heart, 
and an effort was begotten which never ceased 
but once until I was* delivered from the carnal 
mind; then I thought of this truth: u Ye are 
the clay, I am the potter," and I thought it 
implied a state of inactivity, and that my effort 
should cease, and so I rejected it, but found it 
plunged me into a state of darkness and con- 
fusion. I told Mr. D. about it, and he said : 
u You have not the true light, for God knows 
it all, yet he will be sought unto by the house of 
Israel to do these things for them, and an effort, 
aided by the Spirit, must continue until lost 
in the realization of what it implied; to stop 
this effort is to lose conviction without gaining 
anything." 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 103 

I took a stand against what I had done, and 
soon the effort was again given me, and I saw 
myself like a lamb striving to get into the next 
field, striking its head first on one side of the 
gap and then on the other, overlooking the only 
open way, and I cried out like Job: "Oh, 
that I knew where I might find him I" For a 
longtime the effort continued. I was buffeted 
on every side, but many truths were given me 
to encourage and strengthen my faith. 

I now went to Mr. D.'s to stay for a time, 
and one night, as the family and a neighbor 
were present, Mr. D. began talking. I never 
could remember just what he said, but it seemed 
to fall into my heart like leaven, and all he 
said increased its power, until my heart was 
like the truths he uttered. I saw the highway 
cast up for the redeemed of the Lord to walk 
in, and heard a voice say : " Record her name, 
she has entered the way." I felt like the little 
child I saw, and did not wish ever to speak 
another word, but just to live throughout time 
and eternity in this element of joy and love. 
I could not sleep for joy and wonder, and occa- 
sionally would say, " Is not this imagination?" 
But on looking into my heart there was the 
change. I could see it, feel it, and knew it. 
The arm of the Lord had been revealed. 

Mr. D. was still a true prophet, and I was a 
witness to the third state of grace. But the 



104 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

next day the temptation came. " Though old 
things had passed away, how could I say all 
things had become new" without waiting to 
Tbe tested, and perhaps it would not be best to 
confess it until I became better established in it. 
I was afraid this might be the enemy, but looked 
at it long enough to receive an impression that 
weakened me and I said nothing to any one. 

In a day or two the minister from the Hope- 
well church and one of the leading laymen 
called. The conversation turned on experience, 
when Mr. D. mentioned the third state of 
grace. The layman dissented, but the minister 
asked for an explanation. Mr. D. answered by 
quoting this truth, "If the righteous scarcely 
be saved, where shall the ungodly and the 
sinner appear V ' and continued as follows : 
"Why are the righteous scarcely saved ? Be- 
cause a righteous man is not a holy one. There 
is no doubt about a holy man; he is saved, but 
this righteous or right- wise man is following 
after holiness, and only retains his righteous- 
ness so long as he lives up to the light given; 
if he sees something more to attain unto, the 
advanced light condemns him and his right- 
eousness is gone; that is why he can scarcely 
be saved. This righteousness is not obtained 
at conversion, as then only the sins are forgiv- 
en, but is an after work wrought in the heart by 
faith in the truths relating to it; but this sec- 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 105 

ond change does not make him holy, but only 
prepares him to see his evil nature in contrast 
with God's holy character. I appeal to any 
one who has retained the evidence of the second 
change for any great length of time, if he does 
not find the seeds of sin still remaining in him. 
I am well aware this is not a doctrine found in 
the theology of the present day, but it is the 
theology of experience, and there is nothing else 
reliable." 

I was not in the room, but could plainly hear 
what was said, and felt prompted to go in and 
confirm it by my late experience; but while I 
waited they left, the layman exceedingly bitter 
and the minister under conviction. 

I now began to feel badly, and continued to 
feel worse until I felt wicked — more so than I 
had ever done; and though I did not act I 
finally felt in my heart that I dared walk con- 
trary to known duty. I then thought of Madam 
Guyon' s words : ' ' Satan could not have been a 
devil had he not first been an angel; and the 
higher we rise in grace the more like Satan we 
become if we fall." This so alarmed me that I 
turned to the Lord and prayed to know what I 
had done to cause all this. I was first directed 
to the change God had wrought, then to the 
suggestion not to confess it, and then to my 
disobedience in refusing to be a witness to the 
third state of grace. I was greatly grieved, as 



106 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

it had been my intention to be faithful, and 
felt I needed yet to be a hearer of the Word 
that I might be kept from falling. I had 
promised present and future obedience, and 
God again smiled upon me. I went to those 
two men, confessed my neglect, and told them 
my experience. The layman said : "I will 
not believe it, if I am lost." The minister, who 
had so soon taken a stand against Mr. D., said, 
referring to his last words : ' ' There is nothing 
so unreliable as experience." 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 107 



CHAPTER VI. 

I was now led into truths I had never known 
before, and could, by them, see the nature of the 
change I had realized. It seemed to me much 
more like a new birth than any change I had 
known previously, and I was perfectly satisfied 
that the element in me which had been stronger 
than my will, and which was not subject to the 
law of God, neither indeed can be, was separated 
from me, and in its place were truths like these : 
4 ' Great and precious promises are given us 
whereby we are made partakers of the divine 
nature." "Now is the axe laid to the root of 
the tree." "He that hath this hope in him 
purifieth himself even as He is pure." "The 
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath 
made me free from the law of sin and death," 
and many others which were the joy and re- 
joicing of my soul. I could see how very far 
the professed church of God had gone from the 
Word, until there proceeded not a ray of light 
from her, and as Mr. D. said, "They teach 
for doctrines the commandments of men," as 
obtained from the contents of their libraries, 
which at the best is but collateral testimony. 



108 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

Thus, " The leaders of the people cause them 
to err, and they who are led by them are de- 
stroyed," and the Savior said: "Let them 
alone, they are blind leaders of the blind, and 
shall both fall into the ditch." These are the 
false prophets to beware of, who teach many 
ways, but not the narrow one which Christ 
taught. 

The country is full of schools and colleges 
for the education of young men preparing for 
the ministry, who claim a call to this work, 
who before entering upon it must pass an ex- 
amination, not in Christian experience, which 
alone gives the knowledge of the gospel, but in 
the productions of men, so as to keep pace 
with the progress of this advanced age. Paul, 
the most learned of all the apostles, was chosen 
as the one best fitted to condemn this course, 
being sent out to preach, "not with enticing 
words of man's wisdom;" and he warned those 
to whom he wrote against having faith in it, as 
it was foolishness .with God ; and it seems strange 
that persons of intelligence should claim it a 
necessary qualification for laboring in the vine- 
yard, when God said: "He has chosen the 
weak things of the world to confound the 
mighty." But they say, "Sanctified human 
wisdom adds to our usefulness. ' ' But will God 
sanctify what he declares he will destroy ? 

The only reason of this is, the Word of God 



OF GEORGE DOKLE. 109 

is rejected. When the man fresh from his col- 
legiate course stands up to tell the people what 
the gospel is, what is his dependence ? Certain- 
ly not the Holy Ghost, but his educational 
qualifications, and what he delivers has taken 
days of study and research, and the people 
say : "We have had an intellectual feast to- 
day." But what of him who cries, "What 
can I do to be saved V 5 Is he not offered a stone 
for bread, and does he not "wander up and 
down the earth to find the word of the Lord," 
and find in its place he that prophesies out of 
his own heart ? We are living in the fulfill- 
ment of these truths; and happy is he who is 
not ignorant of the times and seasons foretold 
by the prophets who received the Word at the 
mouth of God. 

A year passed by, not without trials, but 
with God' s love and approval. I had labored 
at anything my hand found to do, knowing it 
would be useless to attempt teaching again. 
Now, with expenses daily accumulating, and 
scarcely enough on hand to meet them, I felt I 
must have more reliable business. I tried to 
get a situation as writer or copyist, but there 
were already more applicants than places. I 
tried as a seamstress with the same result. The 
stores were filled with clerks at bare living pay; 
the shops and factories over run at starvation 
prices. What to do I did not know and was 



110 KELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

in a great strait. It had been instilled into my 
mind from early childhood that housework was 
the lowest of all, and to be a u hired girl" was 
but a step above disgrace. But there seemed 
no alternative. I must do something, and 
every other avenue to me was closed. I con- 
fess it was very humiliating; but confident God 
knew what was best for me, I took up my cross 
and went to work in the kitchen of a very kind 
old couple who lived near Mr. D.'s. I cannot 
truthfully say it was not galling to earn in 
seven days what had once been my wages for 
one. But I never murmured, feeling it was 
God's way, and his love cheered me on. After 
a time I saw my expenses would be more than 
my income, and what I suffered over this no 
tongue can tell. God had said if I trusted him 
"He would never suffer me to be confounded 
or put to shame;" but what could be more 
shame than to fail to meet lawful obligations 
and then to have it charged to the cause I so 
much loved % 

It seemed hard to endure, and I wept and 
prayed, willing to do anything to avert this. 
Many Scriptures were given me implying God's 
care, and this hymn : 

"Give to the winds thy fears; 

Hope and be undismayed; 
God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears, 

He shall lift up thy head. 
Through waves, and clouds, and storms, 



OF GEORGE D TINKLE. Ill 

He gently clears thy way ; 
Wait thou his time, so shall this night 
Soon end in joyous day/' 

I clung to these promises, crying, " Lord, 
help my unbelief." I cut off all personal ex- 
penses possible, buying only the coarsest cloth- 
ing, and hardly enough for comfort; and when 
tempted to complain, was reminded of the 
Savior, who had but one garment at his death 
for which to cast lots. I learned from this a 
Scriptural economy I should have never learned 
otherwise, and for which I was ever after thank- 
ful. It was not for myself that I cared; but 
the prospect of being placed before the world 
as dishonest because of my obedience to God, 
was trying my faith to the uttermost; but I 
determined to cling to the truth, ' ' Come dis- 
aster, scorn or pain," believing he could over- 
rule all for my good in some way. 

After a time my eyes were opened in a direc- 
tion I had not thought of. There were others 
more able whose duty it was to carry the bur- 
den I was bearing, who would never think of 
responsibility if it were not cast upon them. I, 
therefore, after meeting all indebtedness of my 
own contracting, left my care to those to whom 
it belonged, feeling that I had never refused to 
do all, and more, than duty and affection re- 
quired. I had cared for myself since the age 
of thirteen, had been industrious, and fortunate 



112 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

in commanding good wages, which had been 
contributed to the maintenance of those de- 
pending on me; but this did not shield me from 
the charge of refusing to aid one who had giv- 
en me birth, in the time of her old age and in- 
firmity, and it was heralded throughout the 
country that iC I would not even get my mother 
a pair of shoes. ' ' I received it all for my good, 
as among the " All things" that must be said 
falsely, for Christ' s sake, and went on my way 
rejoicing in the mysterious ways of God, well 
knowing that sickness would demand aid im- 
possible to give if there was no opportunity to 
save. 

A German Catholic woman had lived with 
Mrs. D. for several years, and when about to 
leave Mr. D. said to her : u I feel bad." 

" Why do you feel bad f she said. 

" Because you have lived here so long, and 
are now going away and have not been con- 
verted," he replied. 

"I read my prayer-book every day," she 
said. 

"You can never get converted unless you 
throw away your prayer-book," he replied. 

In a few weeks she came back a changed 
woman, and in her broken way, said : 

" I throw away prayer-book, Catholics and 
everything, and then I prayed to the Lord, 
and my heart was alive, and I feel if I die I will 
go to heaven." 



OF GEOKGE JVUNKLE. 113 

After a long time he saw her again, and she 
said : "I have joined the Methodist Episcopal 
church; they told me I must, so as to have 
some one to bury me." 

He said: "You are already buried," but 
she did not comprehend its meaning. 

At last she was taken sick, and for nearly 
two years could not go from her home. Xot 
one of her church friends came to see her all 
this time, though she sent word repeatedly to 
them, and to her preacher, desiring their coun- 
sel and prayers. 

I had never met her but twice, but one day 
I was impressed to go and talk with her about 
her soul; she was very feeble, and able to sit 
up only a little while at a time. I told her why 
I came, and she wept and said : 

" My soul is not saved. I feel bad, and I am 
afraid to die. I wish Mr. and Mrs. Dunkle 
would come and see me." 

I returned and told them her desire, and they 
went to see her. After they had talked awhile 
Mr. D. said to her : 

" You have lost something." 

"Lost something?" said she. u What have 
Host?" 

"Do you remember so many years ago where 
you threw away your prayer-book, your heart 
was all alive, and you felt ready to die ? You 
had love, God's love in your soul; you have 
lost that love," he said. 



114 EELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

It slowly dawned upon the feeble mind, and 
then she burst into tears, and said : 

" Yes, I lost the love. Now I will die and 
lose my soul." 

u No," said Mr. D., "you can get it back. 
We will pray for you, and you pray with all 
your heart to God to give you back the love 
you lost and he will hear and answer you." 

So they knelt and prayed; she was too feeble 
to kneel, but prayed earnestly, and it was not 
long before the love came back, and she shout- 
ed and praised the Lord, and said : " I feel so 
happy, I could fly right up to the sky," and 
they left her rejoicing in the Lord. 

When I went in a few days after one of the 
church members had called, and, finding out 
what had happened, said: u Mr. D. is not 
God, neither is he the only Christian in the 
place." 

This produced an effect, and when shortly 
aiter I heard from her, the minister and many 
others had flocked in, had held prayer-meeting 
and given her the Sacrament, and were very 
attentive. 

I called on her and found her elated with 
these attentions, but very much depressed in 
spirit; and the last time I saw her she said : 
" As long as I held to Brother Dunkle I kept 
the love; the Methodists came and I lost it. I 
must give up the Methodists or Brother D. 



OF GEORGE DU1STKLE. 115 

When I think I will give up the Methodists, my 
nurse says she will leave me, and everybody is 
against me, and I don't know what will become 
of me." 

I exhorted her as best I could to cling to the 
one who had benefited her, no matter what 
happened, and if she had the love her soul 
would be saved. She shook her head sadly 
and seemed unwilling to take up the cross, and 
died in a few weeks. 

If I needed more to convince me that the in- 
fluence of the Methodist church was destructive 
to grace I had it now; as many times as they 
had been sent for, they never came until they 
were moved by that spirit who is watching to 
destroy, who knew when she escaped from his 
grasp, and they were attentive until the object 
was gained, the love was lost, and then not one 
of them came near her, and she was left to die 
alone. 

When I first came to Mr. D.'s Mr. A. was pro- 
fessing a high state of grace ; but at last the 
truth found him out and he saw himself des- 
titute of the witness. He confessed his state 
and began to seek the Lord. He lived near 
where I was staying, and one day, thinking I 
heard a voice, I went to the window and saw 
him at work, but seemingly filled with deep 
emotion. He often looked up as if in prayer, 
spreading his hands heavenward, and would 



11.6 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

then resume Ms work. I watched him for some 
time, when he slapped his hands and shouted, 
' i Hallelujah !" at the top of his voice. I raised 
the sash and said : " Brother A., have you found 
the sheep fold ?" He started in surprise at my 
voice, but shouted again : " Hallelujah ! Hal- 
lelujah ! the Lord God omnipotent reigneth in 
my heart!" He continued in the enjoyment 
of God' s favor for several months, and was very 
useful in aiding others in the divine life, to which, 
I am a witness. But his prosperity seemed at 
length to exalt him ; he became self-sufficient, 
refused to be entreated, and at last hopelessly 
deluded. Brother D. labored long to convince 
him of the error of his ways, but without suc- 
cess. He was a man wise in his own eyes. 
" There is more hope of a fool than of him." 
Finally he became an enemy, and though he 
had received but little light he had a good 
memory, and carried the light seen by others 
wherever he went, which gave him some influ- 
ence among those who were not aware of his 
state. 

One Sabbath Mr. D. said : "I am impressed 
with this truth : 4 Behold, I am against that 
prophet, saith the Lord, that steals my words, 
every one, from his neighbor.' Light, as given 
by God, must be faithfully declared. Those 
who hear it may also see, and by committing 
themselves to it may realize its import when it 






OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 117 

becomes their light ; but it will not be given in 
just the same language in which it was first 
heard, as that given by the Holy Ghost always 
possesses an originality; so that every testi- 
mony to the same fact is clothed in different 
phrases. Look at the four evangelists all 
relating the same story, but each so distinct 
from the other as to be corroborative proof of 
the truthfulness of the facts related. So among 
those who are led by the Holy Ghost, all are 
brought to the same experience, but no two are 
led in precisely the same way, and the language 
given one as testimony differs from that given 
another ; and to promulgate as your own what 
•you have heard from another is what is con- 
demned in this truth, and is really stealing 
God' s word. ' As many as are led by the Spirit 
of God they are the sons of God.' And the in- 
finite wisdom of Him whose ways are as high 
above our ways as the heavens are above the 
earth, leads every soul in a way they have not 
known, so that 'He has the glory of all the 
good done in the earth.' " 

Mr. A. turned a deaf ear to all truth designed 
to recover him out of the snare of the evil one, 
and has since died and gone to his reward. 

Mrs. A, was a very quiet woman, had made 
a profession for many years, had great faith in 
the Scriptures and confidence in Mr. D. One 
day she came to him and said: "This truth 



118 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

has followed me day and night for a long time : 
' Confess and forsake and ye shall find mercy. 5 
What does it mean?" Mr. D. replied: "It 
means you are fallen from grace, and if you 
comply with the Scriptures you will realize the 
promise therein contained." She was in great 
distress of mind for several years ; her health 
failed, and she confessed God's afflicting hand 
because of unwillingness to obey him in all 
things. A few weeks before her death she was 
restored to God' s favor, and gave a good testi- 
mony of saving grace and the long-suffering and 
forbearance of God and his people with her way- 
ward course. Her daughter who cared for her 
had a deep experience, and thus relates it : 

"My earliest religious convictions came to 
me at the age of eleven years, by the testimony 
of Mr. D. There was an influence attending 
what he said I had not felt from any other 
source, though I had always attended religious 
meetings. This conviction followed me for sev- 
eral months, convincing me of the sins I had 
committed and how dreadful it would be to go 
to the judgment unprepared. One Saturday 
evening, in the prayer-meeting held at our house 
by Mr. D., the power of God came in an unusual 
manner upon him. What he said under its in- 
fluence so deepened the conviction in my heart 
that I felt I must seek the Lord now or per- 
haps I never would find him. I began praying 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 119 

to the Lord with all my heart, but in the midst 
of it this truth came to me : 'If you regard in- 
iquity in your heart the Lord will not hear you.' 
I stopped praying and looked within. I could 
see there the love of the world and a desire for 
many things I knew were condemned by the 
Bible. I hesitated for a few moments and then 
promised the Lord ' I would forever forsake all 
these things and live according to his Word if 
he would forgive me.' I then continued in 
prayer until he answered me and the evidence 
came that I was his child. I loved him, and 
my fear of death and the judgment was gone* 
A step-sister was converted at the same time. 
I wish I could say I had always been faithful 
to my promise, but the world with its allure- 
ments many times drove Him from my heart,, 
and as many times I renewed my vows and He 
would again receive me, until at last I felt the 
need of a deeper work of grace as the only way 
to continue in the Christian life. I was con- 
victed by this truth : ' Create in me a clean heart, 
and renew a right spirit within me,' and I be- 
gan seeking its fulfillment. I was several times 
defeated in my effort, but resolved never to rest 
short of its attainment; and one night at family 
prayers I realized the change, and the witness 
that my heart was pure. This far exceeded 
conversion in light, power and joy, and truths 
that had been dark to me were now plain to my 
mind. 



120 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

"I lived in the enjoyment of this for a long 
time, and truly thought all the hindrances to 
my leading a Christian life were gone. But as 
I received light on God's requirements from 
time to time, and some that were very crossing, 
I found I still had a nature that rebelled against 
them, and, try as I might, I could not keep this 
in subjection. I many times cast away my con- 
fidence because of this, and lost my evidence, 
and was in great darkness. At one of these 
times I called on a lady living in the village 
who was visited by her pastor, a D. D. She 
introduced me to him as a very devoted Chris- 
tian, to which he replied in a very flattering 
way. I was pleased with the compliment given 
me and returned home. When I next saw Mr. 
D. I told him what had been said to me. He 
gave me a piercing look, and said : ' I hope 
you will get right with the Lord.' I could but 
contrast the two testimonies ; his remark was 
like a dagger to my heart, and I again turned 
to the Lord and found him, but there was the 
same trouble as before. There was rebellion in 
my heart at God' s dealings with me, and though 
I did not yield outwardly, yet I knew and God 
knew ; and hearing testimonies of a third state 
of grace, in which this nature was removed, I 
began seeking it. There were many crosses to 
bear and many duties to do, but promises were 
given me, and by a steadfast faith and contin- 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 121 

lied obedience I realized that nature separated 
from me, which produced a change greater than 
any I had felt before. I now had great light 
on truths and the moral condition of the world, 
and saw Mr. D. as an example worthy of imi- 
tation, like as Paul, who said: ' Follow me as 
I follow Christ ;' and the Spirit gave me this 
truth : 'Let thine eyes be on the perfect of the 
land.' I received him as a leader, directed by 
the Holy Ghost to guide souls from sin to holi- 
ness, and to instruct them in the truth, which 
would finally make them 'perfect, as their 
heavenly Father is perfect. 5 For lack of un- 
derstanding the devices of Satan I more than 
once deviated from the upright position taught 
me, but, as soon as I saw it, repented and re- 
turned. I believed fully in all Mr. D. taught 
as coming from God, and followed him in all 
the points of his experience until his death, and 
am a living witness to-day of the power of the 
Gospel he preached to save the soul." 

The wife of a judge living in the western part 
of the state, hearing of Mr. D., wrote to him, 
asking him to come and instruct a little com- 
pany there, who were dissatisfied with them- 
selves and the church, and knew not what to 
do. He went ; found a little band of men and 
women without light or experience, some from 
the higher walks of life, but all equally in need 
of religion. One lady of refined education said 



122 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

to him : "I sometimes get so angry I could da 
anything, and my heart is as wicked as Satan. 
I do not yield to these things to commit them, 
but they are there ; what does it mean V 9 He 
replied: " It means you have an evil nature, 
with which all are born, and though some gov- 
ern and control it more than others, yet that 
does not change it." "Is there any way to get 
rid of it?" she said. "Most assuredly there 
is," he replied. "For, for this very purpose 
the Son of God was manifest to destroy the 
work of the devil." He then spoke at length 
of man's condition in his fallen state, the pro- 
visions and promises of the Gospel, and the 
joys of salvation. There was a man among 
them who, at the close of his remarks, said : 
"Is all this realized at conversion?" Without 
answering at first, he said, pointing to the man : 
"There is a man who has had an experience ; 
I know from the na ture of the question. ' ' Then, 
in answer to the question, he said: "At con- 
version the actual sins are forgiven, but the 
nature is not changed, and, indeed, is not even 
seen, until another work is wrought in the heart, 
which prepares the way for a complete death 
to the sinful, depraved life, with which all are 
created ; and he who stops at the first state does 
not realize Scriptural salvation, as the nature 
will continue to produce its own fruit ; so that 
no one can remain long in a justified state with- 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 123 

out being overcome and falling into actual sin." 
That man had realized a pure heart, and been 
much persecuted by those who did not believe 
in but one change. He had felt the risings of 
evil in his heart, but, never having heard of any- 
thing in advance, had stopped, and was now des- 
titute of the evidence. He came many times to 
Mr. D.'s, was restored, convicted for the third 
change, and when he saw the separation it would 
make in his family and the world, drew back 
and left the truth, and walked no more with us. 
He would no doubt have been a very useful man 
had he continued in the right way, but now helps 
to swell the company of those who refused the 
cross. 

My companion to the camp-meeting, whom I 
will call Miss J., had lived in the enjoyment of 
a pure heart for a time, and now found, even 
as I had, that her nature was unchanged, and 
came to Mr. D. for instruction, who gave her 
the same as to others in a like state, when 
she said: "If I have never been Scrlpturally 
saved, as you say, how, then, could I have en- 
tered heaven had I died at any time since my 
conversion?" 

He replied : "Scriptural salvation implies 
all the changes necessary to rid the soul of 
what was entailed upon it by Adam's trans- 
gression; neither at conversion nor the next 
change is this done; but as God's approbation 



124 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

Is retained, lie cannot condemn at the same 
time; so that as long as a man walks up to all 
the light given, he is in favor with God, and 
could not be lost should he die without having 
been freed from sin; and yet as there is no sin 
in heaven, there is but one principle upon 
which he can be saved, and that is the princi- 
ple of the infant, who, having the evil nature 
but having no knowledge, cannot be held re- 
sponsible; neither are adult persons responsi- 
ble for what the Spirit has given them no 
knowledge of, or conviction for. So the in- 
fant and justified adult person are in the same 
condition at death, and their work of salvation 
is cut short in righteousness; the blood of 
Christ as a free-will offering unto God inter- 
poses in their behalf, and they thus become free 
from sin and join those who reached the same 
point by faith. But to him unto whom light 
is given to see this nature, this principle does 
not apply, as he then becomes responsible for 
its presence, and unless he succeeds in getting 
rid of it the condemnation of it will be upon 
him to all eternity." 

This struck conviction to her heart, and af- 
ter a time she, too, realized the change and was 
a witness of the third state which was now so 
condemned by the wise and prudent. 

For many years Mr. D. worked his own farm, 
but as his strength failed he leased it to differ- 



OF GEORGE DUISTKLE. 125 

ent men, some of whom made no profession, 
For this he was strongly reproved, especially 
by two men, one who was dependent on him 
for a home, and the other who had left a slen- 
der wife and several small children to care for 
themselves, while he traveled from place to 
place to attend religious meetings, claiming a 
call from God to do so, and who always wanted 
money to help him in his work. To these men 
Mr. D. said: " Diligence in business is as 
much enjoined in the Scriptures as fervency in 
spirit, and to work and labor with our own 
hands to provide for our own wants so as not to 
become dependent on the labor of others is right, 
and will at least insure self-respect and the re- 
spect of all right-minded persons. Temporal and 
spiritual duties never conflict with each other. 
Man'.s spiritual duty is, first to get right him- 
self; then, as God shall lead him, labor for the 
salvation of his fellowmen. His temporal du- 
ties are, first, to provide the comforts of life for 
himself and those rightfully dependent on him, 
and he who shirks this lawful responsibility, 
be he father, brother, nephew or son, is not a 
Christian man; and he who claims a call of 
God that violates either of these duties is not 
led by the Holy Ghost." 

Both these men soon had a call in another 
direction. There were several others, some of 
whom were preachers, who at different times. 



126 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

reproved him for retaining his property, say- 
ing : ' ' The apostles placed all their possessions 
in one common fund, and no man called any- 
thing his own, so all were then provided for." 
Mr. D.'s only reply to this was, u Show me the 
apostles and I will gladly comply with your 
wish." They never attempted to show who 
could so be trusted, and dropped the matter 

There were a number of women who had lost 
their husbands in the town who were in rather 
straitened circumstances, and one day one of 
the church members came to him and said : 
" There are many widows in the place; you 
have means and claim to live by the Scriptures; 
why do you not aid them ?" 

He replied : " Widows ! I know of none 
who are such as Elisha was sent to; but there 
are widows who trust in God, and who continue 
day and night in prayer to him, who have re- 
lieved the afflicted and diligently followed 
every good work and are widows indeed; did 
I know of any such I would provide for them." 

At a Free Methodist meeting, when the zeal 
and life of the exercises did not meet the ex- 
pectations of the leader, all were required to 
kneel and consecrate themselves anew to the 
Lord, when their zeal would take on more noise 
and activity. Then again it would die away 
and the same consecration would be repeated; 
so that in nearly every meeting this was done, 
<and often many times. 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 127 

Upon inquiry Mr. D. found this the universal 
practice, both in that body and others. When 
called upon to speak he said : "I feel it duty 
to condemn in the strongest terms this ever- 
lasting consecration as unscriptural and un- 
reasonable. Consecration is a command of 
God, and without it there is no salvation, and 
if there be disobedience to the Spirit the cov- 
enant is broken, and must be renewed before 
the soul is in favor with God. But to continue 
this is not only foolishness, but you can find 
no authority for it in the Word. When God 
commanded the people to consecrate themselves, 
it was after they had sinned and their covenant 
relation was broken. Then look at the folly 
of making a present to a person, and continue 
to say, I give it to you. Would you not be 
judged insane? So when you give yourself to 
God let it be a vow once and forever, that he 
can accept and it will bring you within the 
circumference of his promises. Then to con- 
tinue giving yourself to him is confusion, and 
in short, no one led by the Holy Ghost would 
think of doing so." 

There was a free Methodist dedication in the 
village to which Mr. D. was invited. The sub- 
ject of the sermon was, " The household of 
faith," after which Mr. D. spoke, and thus re- 
lates what followed: "As I sat down Sol- 
omon's temple came before me, and the pre- 



128 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

cision with which every part was fitted and 
adjusted, so that not a sound of a hammer 
was heard in its building. I asked why this 
painstaking, since God does not dwell in tem- 
ples made by hands i The Masonic order has 
based their law-defying, hellish structure on its 
plan, and the churches point to it as a pattern 
for their buildings, and the more means used 
to adorn them, though wrung from the sweat 
of the poor, the greater the pleasure and pride, 
and the more the wealthy and fashionable seek 
its pews, until the lowly are entirely excluded. 
What, then, was its design ? It was shown me 
by the Spirit that it was a perfect representa- 
tion of the church of God, composed not of 
the different sects, or any one of them, but of 
lively stones polished after the similitude of a 
palace, from which are built a habitation unto 
God, and growth unto a holy temple, of which 
Christ is the head. There are souls who, being 
taken from the rude quarry of nature and 
saved from sin, and afterward hewn and pol- 
ished by suffering and affliction, are taken by 
God for his household, and are builded togeth- 
er for a habitation of God through the Spirit; 
these compose the New Jerusalem John saw 
adorned as a Bride for her Lord. If the 
splendor of Solomon' s temple surpassed all be- 
fore it, so the church, which it but prefig- 
ured, surpasses in glory, beauty and power all 



OF GEOKGE D TINKLE. 129 

that eye hath seen or heart conceived. This 
truth was then given me: ' Having boldness to 
enter into the holiest by a new and living way, 
let us draw near in full assurance of faith,' etc., 
and I was brought into a state of affinity with 
angels and redeemed spirits that I never knew 
anything of before. I seemed to come unto 
' Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the 
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable 
company of angels, to the church of the first- 
born and to the spirits of just men made per- 
fect. ' I never knew the meaning of these truths 
before, but now I understood what composed 
the church of Christ and the requisite qualifica- 
tion for membership in it, and the love that 
unites them is like that between Christ and his 
Father. I realized no inward change, but was 
brought into these truths as a position to live 
and move in, and the joy I feel is beyond de- 
scription. I see so plainly that preacher knew 
nothing of the household of faith unto which 
he tried so hard to place his church, who knew 
but little of the first principles of Scriptural 
salvation. It was now shown me there was still 
another state to realize, but I know nothing of 
it." 

I was not a little surprised at this testimony, 
having supposed that when the evil nature was 
removed nothing more could be realized be- 
yond it, and I wondered if I should always be 



130 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

as satisfied as I had lately been. But I was 
like a child who, having learned the rudiments, 
feels competent to teach, and was not aware 
that I had just begun the Christian life. 

When I spoke to Mr. D. of this he said: 
"Do you suppose there will be an end of pro- 
gress in time or eternity? The mind is pro- 
gressive in its nature, and cannot be confined 
without ruin. The teaching of the age is pro- 
gression by study of science, art, nature, theol- 
ogy, and a hundred other things, and by this 
excessive mental strain the nervous system is 
prostrated, and sometimes reason dethroned; 
and this is extoled as a sacrifice for the good of 
mankind, commendable but sad. Then for a 
recreation from this soul-destroying labor there 
must be pleasure parties, theatres, games, ex- 
cursions by land and sea, and entertainments 
without end, in which there can be seen no 
difference between church members and in- 
fidels, professors and profane. This is as op- 
posite to God's design of progression as the 
poles. Man was created with a mind capable 
of great understanding; all of its faculties and 
powers were dwarfed and perverted by sin; 
when sin is separated from the spirit the mind, 
somewhat disentangled, begins to grasp divin- 
ity, its original source of food; and though not 
"until the change of the resurrection does it re- 
gain all it has lost, yet it is constantly reach- 



OF GEORGE DTTISTKLE. 131 

Ing out for a greater knowledge of Him whose 
wisdom no created intelligence can fathom, and 
lie has said: 'The path of the just is as a 
shining light which shineth more and more 
unto the perfect day.' ' Then shall we know 
if we follow on to know the Lord.' 

"The Scriptures are full of admonitions to 
continued advancement, not by study and ef- 
fort, but by simple faith and obedience, thus 
leaving the mind free to enjoy those entertain- 
ments God has provided, ' when the times of 
refreshing come from the presence of the Lord;' 
and 'when the windows of heaven are opened 
to pour out a blessing there is not room to re- 
ceive;' when there is within a never failing 
'well of water springing up unto everlasting 
life;' where 'two or three are gathered togeth- 
er,' not for social pleasure, but because ' God is 
to be in their midst;' then the fellowship of 
the saints, the communication of faith from 
heart to heart, even as in water face answereth 
to face, and the love which cements them to- 
gether in the oneness Christ prayed for. Sure- 
ly ' I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house 
of God than to dwell in the tents of wicked- 
ness;' " and then we sang : 

" Blest Savior, what delicious fare, 
How sweet thine entertainments are; 
Never did angels taste above 
Redeeming grace and dying love.'' 






132 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

I had no more trouble with the doctrine of 
progression, and followed on. I will not relate 
the details of my experience for a long time 
after this, but I came at last to what seemed 
like a wall, and I must either realize something 
in advance or stop here and die. This truth 
came to me, " Zion is a city compact together^ 
whither the tribes go up unto the testimonies 
of the Lord." In this I saw my privilege to 
also follow the tribes up to Zion, the church of 
God. After professing my belief in it one 
night I was brought into it, and 0, what love 
and joy ! I can only tell that angels and holy 
spirits surrounded me, and I mingled with them 
and partook of their enjoyment and holy de- 
light. The word Zion had a new meaning, 
and truths that to me had been meaningless* 
now were read, understood and enjoyed. I had 
heard Mr. D. say: "Very few ever under- 
stood the nature and influence of divine love." 
NW I knew it, and I never felt such perfect 
satisfaction in God before. 



OF GEORGE DTOKLE. 133 



CHAPTER VII. 

One day, as Mr. D. was walking out to din- 
ner, he fell backward to the floor. He was 
helped to the couch, where he lay for several 
hours unconscious as to his surroundings, but, 
as could clearly be seen, passing through some- 
thing of great interest and satisfaction. He 
would look upward and smile, his face beaming 
with joy, and again closing his eyes his coun- 
tenance would lighten up as if he were filled 
with the glory of God, and was conscious of the 
divine presence. Toward evening he arose from 
the couch and asked the time of day. When 
told he was greatly surprised, and said : 4t How 
can it be so ? I thought it w T as but a few mo- 
ments ago since I was called to dinner, but, O, 
what a joyful time I have had ! I thought the 
room was filled with the spirits of the departed, 
and some whom I knew had died in the faith, 
and they were so perfectly happy ; and I was 
filled with the same joy. But it does not seem 
possible I have been here so long." 

He walked out, attended to his usual cares, 
and seemed well, but so happy as to appear 



134 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

child-like. The next morning I met Mrs. CL 
and her daughter as they returned from calling 
on him. Mrs. C. said : "I urged him to call 
a doctor, as his fall must have been caused by 
some physical disorder, but he replied : ' The 
sick need a physician, but I was never in better 
health, and am perfectly happy.' But I think 
it is his brain, and he does not know his own 
condition and ought to consult a physician at 
once. He is certainly a little strange ; his voice 
is unnatural and his manner queer. I tell you 
his mind is affected, and unless he puts himself 
under medical treatment may become wholly 
insane. ' ' Her daughter also added : " He does 
seem strange, and as though a little beside him- 
self. Mr. D. had often said that "no person 
would become insane if he obeyed the Lord, as 
the promise was, ' His mind should be kept in 
perfect peace ;' and even hereditary insanity 
would be obviated by the grace of God if the 
person were faithful. ' ' They knew this was his 
belief and mine, and their combined testimony 
struck me like a fiery dart of Satan ; and for 
twenty-four hours I was in the greatest conflict 
with the powers of darkness I had ever known. 
It was a direct attack on the foundation of Mr. 
D.'s personal experience, and also on what he 
taught, and so extended to all who had been 
benefited by him ; for "if the foundations are 
destroyed what can the righteous do ?" But 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 135 

the truth triumphed and left me stronger in the 
faith, and afterwards Mrs. C. and I called again 
on Mr. D. After a few moments Mr. D. turned 
to her and said : ' ' What will you do when 
the burden given in your behalf is taken away V ' 
She replied: "I hope that time will never 
come." He said : u It has already come. For 
nearly twenty years God has burdened me in 
behalf of your soul. I have prayed for and 
labored with you, and what have you done? 
Always halting between two opinions. Instead 
of gathering with the Lord you have been scat- 
tering abroad, until you have now taken a stand 
against me. The Spirit showed me this yester- 
day, and last night I saw you, having on a black 
bonnet, go down like lightning. I do not say 
you can never get back, but all feeling left me 
for you, and I rejoiced ; not at your state, but 
that I was delivered from this burden at which 
I had never murmured, but which had caused 
me great suffering and continual concern." 
She was silent for a long time, and then said : 
" What you say I have done is not true ;" and 
she cast a look of anger at me as if I were the 
cause of his remarks, and went away. We 
now thought surely he was about to die, and 
our feelings can be better imagined than de- 
scribed. We had learned to love him as a 
Christian, a leader, and a father. There was 
no point in our experience but where his in- 



136 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

etructions had benefited us, and lie was like 
4 ' Paul, gentle among us, as a nurse cherishing 
her children," always ready to admonish us. 
We were forsaken by friends and pursued by 
enemies, and felt as though he were our only 
earthly help in time of trouble ; and when fac- 
ing the storm of opposition through the week, 
if the way opened for us to go to his meeting 
we felt like a mariner with the haven in sight. 
Now what should we do? We felt some as 
those did who ' 4 wept sore, fell on Paul' s neck 
and kissed him ; sorrowing most of all that they 
should see his face no more." 

Seeing our grief he said : ' ' God' s eye is contin- 
ually on his children, watching their course and 
changing their circumstances as their prosperity 
requires, making use of the common events of 
life to benefit them ; and the language of the 
heart should always be, ' Good is the will of 
the Lord.' To suffer a dependence on any cre- 
ated arm that prevents the free and full ac- 
knowledgment of this truth, robs God of the 
trust which should be alone in him ; and though 
he may see fit to use one to benefit another, 
yet c all the good there is done in the earth 
the Lord doeth it,' and to him belongs the 
glory ; and if one be taken from the evil to 
come, though we may feel the loss, yet we 
should rejoice that one is happily landed on 
the fair banks of eternal deliverance." 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 137 

We saw from this that there was danger of an 
undue dependence, and that God had brought 
about this circumstance to prevent it, and not 
to take him away as we supposed. We ever 
after felt very grateful for this light to guard 
us on this point, and we now saw his God- 
anointed position clearer than ever before, as a 
leader especially qualified to teach, and through 
whom God could speak to the people ; and 
though all are npt thus called to this work, yet 
all who are obedient are equally beloved of God, 
and answer the design of their creation as well ; 
and these truths were shown me : 6 ; The priests' 
lips should keep knowledge, and the people 
should seek the law at his mouth." "How 
shall they hear without a preacher?" *' By 
the foolishness of preaching He saves them that 
believe," and Christ's prayer for " those who 
should believe on me through their word." 
The Spirit leads each in their own personal 
duty, but instruction comes through the leader, 
and to reject such is rejecting God. 

Mr. D., being a very meek man, never taught 
any one to look upon him in this light; yet all 
who were faithful could see it and feel the force 
of these truths: u We beseech you brethren to 
know them that labor among you and are over 
you in the Lord and admonish you, and to 
esteem them very highly in love, for their 
work's sake;" and that u ye submit yourselves 



i 



138 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

to everyone that helpeth with us and laboreth;" 
"Let the elders that rule well be counted wor- 
thy of double honor, especially those who labor 
in word and doctrine;" and " remember them 
which have the rule over you, who have spoken 
unto you the word of the Lord, whose faith 
follow;" and also the duty of him that is 
"taught in the Word to communicate to him 
that teacheth," as he then gets the true in- 
struction on what he receives. 

This light going out from those who saw Mr. 
D. in this way caused a great cry from our op- 
posers. They said: "It is man worship to 
regard any one in such a light, and that none 
had a right to look to any but God," and that 
Mr. D. was seeking this honor from man, and 
received it contrary to the Scriptures. While 
I knew there was not a shadow of truth in this 
charge against him, I wondered why they ever 
preached or heard preaching if it were so wicked 
to look in any sense to man. 

After a few days Mr. D. said : "I can now 
tell you what I have realized: it is a state of 
unbounded love and confidence. When I was 
brought into 'the household of * faith,' it was 
shown me there was yet another state to realize, 
but I knew nothing of it until now, and I know 
the import of this truth,* ' Greater love hath no 
man than this, that a man lay down his life for 
his friends.' My spirit is drawn into God, 



OF GEOEGE DTTXKLE. 13\r 

there to live in its native element, and is per- 
fectly happy and satisfied. Like the drop of 
water lost in the ocean, so my soul seems in 
this unbounded love and my confidence is great- 
er than I can express." 

A Wesleyan preacher came to his house and 
stayed several days, ostensibly for a visit and 
business, but really, as was seen afterwards, to> 
trap Mr. D. into a confession of "Freelove" 
Sentiments. He asked a great many wily ques- 
tions, which were answered with great frank- 
ness. 

He said: " Brother D., what is the nature 
of the union you say exists between the mem- 
bers of Christ's church V 

Mr. D. : "It is love, and differs from the 
natural love which is between persons without 
grace, in that there are none of the same ele- 
ments or desires in it, but is divine in its nature, 
and comes to the soul not because of any at- 
traction in another, but by the realization of 
the truth, and if retained will guard the soul 
against falling into the sins to which natural 
love sometimes leads ; and two souls having 
this love, of which the Scriptures say, there is 
no greater, could lay down their lives for each 
other ; and also ' He that loves God loves his 
brother also;' and c He that says he loves God 
and hates his brother is a liar;' and ' Beloved, 
let us love one another, for love is of God;' and 



140 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

-John wrote to a lady whom he loved in the 
truth, beseeching her that they should ' love one 
another;' and 'this is the love, that we keep 
Ms commandments.' " 

Preacher : " Supposing your wife was not a 
Christian and this lady here was, whom would 
you most love ?" 

Mr. D. : " Scriptural obligations between 
husband and wife are not destroyed by grace, 
but a separation in spirit from the world and all 
unrighteousness is enjoined previous to becom- 
ing Christians, and continues to increase until 
the Christ-like character is obtained, when the 
soul is in the kingdom of light and has no fel- 
lowship with darkness; and if this be the case 
in a family, its members will rise up against 
each other, and there will be the division the 
Savior foretold when the ' father will be divid- 
ed against the son, and the son against the 
father, the mother against the daughter and 
the daughter against the mother,' etc., and 'a 
man' s foes shall be they of his own household. ' ' ' 

Preacher : "Is there not danger of this di- 
Tine love becoming impure ?" 

Mr. D. : " Not while It remains divine; 
but at any time, unless there be strict obedience 
to the Spirit there is danger of falling from 
grace." 

Preacher : "Is there not danger in follow- 
ing the Spirit when so many have made ship- 



OF GEOKGE DTJ]S T KLE. 141 

wreck of faith and good morals by so doing f* 

Mr. D. : "Can you tell me how any can be 
the ' sons of God, 5 unless they are 'led by the 
Spirit of God V But there are truly many false 
spirits, and we are commanded to try them; 
and unless there is a single eye, so that the 
body is full of light, the snares daily set by 
Satan will be fallen into, and then the soul will 
follow every way but the right one." 

Notwithstanding these clearly defined an- 
swers, the preacher, bent on Mr. D.'s ruin, said 
to many : ' ' He confessed to me that he be- 
lieved in 'Freeloveism, 5 " which afforded much 
satisfaction to those who had long since predict- 
ed it, and was also the means of turning many 
from him who might otherwise have heard the 
word of life. 

Reports were now circulated that my object 
in coming here was (seeing Mr. D. had no chil- 
dren) to ingratiate myself into his favor so as 
to obtain a share of his property. This wound- 
ed my feelings more than all that had been said 
against me; but I now saw a way to accept 
such griefs as my cross, which I was beginning 
to love, as it brought me into closer relation* 
ship with the Savior. 

The "Freelove" report from that preach er 
was taken up by others, and another Wesleyait 
minister and his wife took especial pains to 
warn me that in a short time we would all be 



142 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

like that notorious old man whom Mr. D. would 
not allow in his house, and carry Adamic per- 
fection to a point where we would feel it a duty 
to go about without clothing. Many others 
hinted the same, but I only rejoiced to see we 
were companions with the saints in persecution, 
and followed on through evil as well as good 
report. 

There were also many complaints because he 
did not baptize and administer the Lord 5 s Supper 
to those who came to him, to which he replied : 
c * These are but figures to express a living reality. 
Though I have no fault to find with anv who feel 
the need of so doing, and I should have no objec- 
tion to administering the sacraments to any 
who gave evidence that the want of them was 
a hindrance to their spiritual advancement, I 
have never seen any saving power in them, and 
consider the commands similar to feet- washing, 
greeting with a holy kiss and others, and if 
one is a literal necessity to salvation, all are. 
But I see in all these a hidden meaning, and 
the outward part might be complied with al- 
ways and yet afford no benefit, while if the in- 
ward sense is realized of what use is the out- 
ward to the seeker of salvation? The daily 
sacrifices were but typical, and after Christ 
came why continue them % So why lay stress 
on these outward things when these do not 
change the heart ? The Word says : ; Except 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 143 

ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no 
life in you.' Bread and wine are but the fig- 
ures of this flesh and blood, and ' the words 
that I speak unto you they are spirit and they 
are life;' all these outward things perish with 
their using, but the Word abideth forever; 
and when the soul becomes intent on salvation 
from sin he will not care for outward cere- 
monies, but desires most of all the spirituality 
of the truth. It is the same with water bap- 
tism. If, instead of quarreling over the mode, 
an equal effort were put forth to secure the 
baptism of the Holy Grhost and to become buried 
by it into Christ's death, there might be hope 
of a greater number knowing there was a Holy 
Ghost; but so long as the leaders live in the let- 
ter and desire no more, and the people love to 
have it so, so long will those who have the di- 
vine reality — the spirit and life — be condemned 
as the Savior was for not observing the law and 
keeping the traditions of the fathers." 

There was a grove meeting near by to which 
he intended to go, and the morning it opened 
he fell from a ladder in the barn and injured 
his side so that he could but walk back to the 
house with great difficulty, and could sit only 
in one position with ease. 

When he saw it was impossible to go to the 
meeting, he said: "I feel like rejoicing, but 
know not why." 



144 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

There were a number who came to the meet- 
ing on purpose to see him, and when they 
heard of his injury several who believed in 
healing faith said : ' ' He will be on the ground 
by 4 o'clock." So immediately after dinner 
they came to see him, among them a Mr. Hyde, 
who was widely known in Western New York 
as an evangelist, who also believed in healing 
faith. 

After talking awhile, one sister said : ' ' Broth- 
er D., shall we have prayers ?" 

He answered : ' ' Certainly, prayer is always 
in order." 

They all prayed fervently and long for Mr. 
D. to be healed, but without avail; he still 
could not move without excruciating pain, and 
they arose and one said : 

" We think it is because you are not in sym- 
pathy with us that our prayer is not answered. ' ' 

He asked : ' ' And do you think you can pray 
for any one to be restored to health at any 
time and God hear you ?" 

One replied : • ' Yes, we claim the healing 
faith, and if you were in sympathy with us 
you would be healed." 

He said: u You do not understand the 
Scriptures. The gift of healing is bestowed 
on a person for a special work, and Tie has no 
power to use it only as inspired by God. But 
to think all have it or can have it is an error : 



OF GEORGE D TINKLE. 145 

and to think if one has it he can use it at his 
pleasure is also an error. Few understand that 
all the different gifts mentioned by Paul are 
as necessary to the church of God to-day as 
they ever were, but we need to understand 
their nature and power, which are not optional 
with us to use, but are under the control of 
Gfod. And as he moves upon the soul the gift 
within is inspired to activity, and accomplishes 
his designs, so that all the glory goes to him. 
There is no doubt much delusion on this point, 
and as Satan can afflict the body, he can also 
remove it; and to deceive souls he no doubt 
does often perform great works, which proves 
the 'lying wonders of the last days.' But 
healing faith as a gift from God is wholly ex- 
ercised by the Holy Ghost." 

That sister was convicted, and sought and 
found saving grace, when she also saw Mr. D. 
as a " chosen vessel unto God." She was a 
highly educated woman, and her testimony on 
that point was very depressing to those who 
were doing all in their power to destroy his in- 
fluence. 

Mr. Hyde's health was very much impaired 
at this time, and after several months a man 
who also claimed healing faith came to Mr. 
D. and said : 

" Brother Hyde is at my house sick and the 
doctors say he can live but a short time; and as 



146 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE * 

I claim the healing faith I would not have him 
die there for anything. Gro home with me and 
I will anoint him with holy oil and you will 
pray for him and he will be healed." 

Mr. D. replied: "If Gfod has willed his 
death my prayers cannot save him; and unless 
I was inspired I could not pray at all." 

The man then said : " If that is your faith 
there is no use in your going." 

One of Mr. D.'s neighbors was inclined to 
consumption, and though ailing was not thought 
to be at all in a serious condition. Mr. D. start- 
ed to call on him and met him returning from a 

ride, and said : ' ' Mr. , I am impressed to 

tell you that your days are numbered and are 
few upon the earth, and I exhort you to pre- 
pare to meet your God." 

The man was affected to tears, and said : "I 
am but just clear from debt, have my buildings 
all repaired, and was now thinking to enjoy 
life; it seems hard to leave it all now." 

Mr. D. asked : "Have you ever been con- 
verted ?" to which he replied : 

" No ; I know nothing of it, but I wish I did !" 

He failed rapidly and was soon confined to 
his bed, and at the last the doctor said he could 
not live. His family, and others to whom he 
related what Mr. D. had said, were much of- 
fended, and said: " To alarm any man in that 
Way was enough to hasten his death." 



OF GEORGE DTOKLE. 147 

Mr. D. called and found him looking very 
bright, and said : "How is it with yon to- 
day ?" 

He replied: " I am very happy and hear 
angels singing around me, and am all right if 
the promises do not fail." 

Mr. D. said: "The promises will never 
fail; but have you realized a change so that you 
can claim them?" 

"No !" he replied excitedly, " I know noth- 
ing of a change, and care nothing, but am very 
happy." 

Mr. D. turned away, and learned that his hap- 
piness was the result of stimulating medicines. 

In a day or two he called again and found 
Mm conscious, able to speak, but near his end. 
As his eyes rested on Mr. D. he stretched out 
his hand, and said: 

" Brother D., — brother, if you will allow me 
to call you so ?" 

There were many present and, under the 
circumstances^ it was a very trying ordeal, but 
Mr. D. knew to take the offered hand would 
be to acknowledge fellowship, and knowing 
how many would be deceived by it he remained 
motionless, without offering to take the hand 
extended to him. All was silent for a few mo- 
ments, and then as the dying man withdrew 
his hand, the evil in his nature seemed to rise 
to his face, and giving Mr. D. a look of most 



148 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

intense hatred for a moment, lie closed liis eyes 
and died in a short time. 

Of course there were many comments and 
great indignation at this. Mr. D. attended the 
funeral, at which the deceased was eulogized 
as a Christian who was now enjoying the glories 
of heaven. 

At the close several came to him and said : 

' ' And so Mr. was saved. I was not aware 

he was a professor of religion," to which he re- 
plied: 

" According to his own testimony he never 
knew a change of heart, as all the friends know, 
and yet he is held up to you all by that false 
teacher as a pattern of piety. You had better 
one and all beware of such deceivers and seek 
a preparation to die that will stand the test of 
the judgment day." 

At a meeting a preacher from an adjoining 
state was present and gave his experience, which 
embraced the third state of grace. It being a 
Scriptural testimony, Mr. D. responded heart- 
ily, and afterward felt impressed to go to the 
man and say : " You are a stranger to me, but 
hearing your experience, which is strictly Scrip- 
tural, I feel impressed to ask you if you have 
retained the evidence of it ?" 

The man started and said : " Who has told 
you anything about me ?" 

"I never heard of you before," replied Mr. 



OF GEOKGE DTT^KLE. 149 

D., "but I felt impressed by the Spirit to ask 
you the question." 

The man was silent for a few moments, and 
then sadly replied : "I will honestly tell you 
all. I have not the evidence. After I realized 
what you heard a wonderful awakening fol- 
lowed, which extended to other charges. Sin 
ners were converted and believers sanctified; 
then the presiding elder came, and in preach- 
ing threw out a fatal error. At the close of 
the sermon I felt pressed to get up and refute 
it, but to publicly attack the elder, and before 
my own people, too, was a great cross, yet I 
knew it was fatal to all who received it and 
was prompted again and again to correct it, but 
the cross was too heavy and I finally refused it. 
My evidence left me and I have never regained 
it, but think I can get it back." 

Mr. D. said : " That will be a difficult mat- 
ter you will see when you look at the extent of 
your disobedience. It is not only the loss of 
your own soul, but the souls of all in that con- 
gregation who received that fatal error will be 
found in your skirts, for you were the watch- 
man who saw the sword coming and failed to 
give the warning, though again and again 
prompted to do so." 

The man wept and went away, and when 
next heard from had gone to the army and died. 

At another meeting the text was, "Have ye 



150 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

received the Holy Ghost since ye believed V* 
which was explained so as to mean that receiv- 
ing the Holy Ghost was salvation, and all that 
any soul needed for time and eternity. 

When the time came for testimony Mr. D. 
said : " Is it a fact that when a person receives 
the Holy Ghost he is made right ?" 

As he paused an instant the preacher said : 
"No, just before." 

Mr. D. continued : " That is a greater error 
than the first. A person may receive the Holy 
Ghost a thousand times and yet realize nothing. 
The office of that Spirit is to convict and en- 
lighten, and if there is obedience to the light 
he will lead the soul to the Lamb of God who 
taketh away the sins of the world, and faith in 
his blood alone brings about the change from 
sin to holiness." 

They felt like gnashing on him with their 
teeth, but dismissed the meeting and left in 
silence. 

Hearing that Dr. and Mrs. Palmer were to 
be in Geneva, and knowing that they were the 
highest authority on Christian experience in the 
world, he went to hear them. All were invit- 
ed forward who desired holiness. They then 
kneeled and sang a prayer and urged the seekers 
to give themselves to the Lord and believe they 
were accepted. They related stories of differ- 
ent persons who had been blessed under their 



0E GEORGE DUNKLE. 151 

labors, and said : ; ' God' s time is now, and none 
need go mourning if they will but believe that 
God sanctifies the gift they offer." 

Then while the Dr. continued to talk she 
went to the seekers and had a moment's whis- 
pered conversation with each, when she said : 
" All these souls are blest ! Thank the Lord ! 
What an army the Lord has raised up here !" 
and after singing several times and exhorting 
those forward to continue to believe they dis- 
missed the meeting. 

As they were passing out a Presbyterian elder 
said to Mr. D. : "I had thought there was al- 
ways conviction before realizing so great an ex- 
perience, but from this it seems not necessary." 

Mr. D. replied : " They are false teachers 
turning your ears from the truth to fables and 
foolish stories, and all who are influenced by 
them become dead, twice dead, and are plucked 
up by the roots.' 

" Yet they are our best authority," said the 
man. 

"Yes," returned Mr. D., "but the Lord 
says : ' The prophets teach falsehood, the 
priests bear rule by their means, and my people 
love to have it so, and what will you do in the 
end thereof?" 

Not long after this a Methodist Episcopal 
conference was held in the village, and though 
many relatives and acquaintances were to be 



152 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

there he remained at home, and while standing 
in the yard and looking toward the place where 
they were convened a voice said to him : 
" There is not a spiritually alive soul in that 
whole body, including the bishop;" and there 
came a great blessing into his heart, and he 
rejoiced, not at what he had seen, but that he 
had eyes to see it." 

Mr. D. had not been to the Hopewell church 
in more than a year now, and one day that lady 
who at the camp-meeting thought Mr. D. so 
changed came to see him, accompanied by her 
husband, and after the first greetings w^ere over 
said : "I realized a great change at that meet- 
ing so long ago, and for some time felt so sep- 
arated from my brethren and sisters in the 
church, and even my own family, that I was 
greatly troubled; but we are all united now and 
I have come to ask you if you do not think it 
wrong to break away from the children of the 
Lord?" 

To this he answered: " Yes, I would think 
that were wrong indeed, and I have never, since 
becoming saved, seen a soul who was right with 
God but that I was in affinity with it, and to 
break away from such would be a wrong I 
have never been guilty of. Now I have some- 
thing to say to you : The separation you felt 
was because of the grace of God; when you 
lost it you fell from grace; if you ever get re- 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 153 

stored you will find the same separation will 
exist as long as you are faithful." This so en- 
raged her husband that he said many unbecom- 
ing things, and showed so much anger that Mr. 
D. said to him: " That evil nature which you 
show so plainly will be your eternal ruin if you 
do not get rid of it." There had always been a 
very kind feeling existing between Mr. D. and 
his relatives, who were nearly all professing 
Christians in the Methodist Episcopal and Pres- 
byterian churches. With them all he had dealt 
faithfully, and many times they were convinced 
and convicted, but would still cling to the teach- 
ing of the day, and would not believe in the un- 
deviating course, but that God, who was a mer- 
ciful being, would make some allowance for hu- 
man depravity, and that they would *all finally 
be saved, not by the same route perhaps, but that 
did not matter if they only all met in heaven. 

Mr. D. was now brought to a most trying 
duty, but he did not shrink; and whenever 
they came, after he saw it plainly, whether they 
were minister or layman, he treated them kind- 
ly, but disregarded them in worship, not ask- 
ing them to lead in prayer or give thanks at 
the table, but performing these duties himself. 
This was a great source of affliction and widened 
the separation already existing. 

I might multiply these incidents, but have 
related enough to show the uncompromising 
position maintained with friend and foe alike. 



154 EELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 



CHAPTER VIII. 

I will now turn to myself and pass over the 
time since being brought into the church of 
the living God. I had changed my place of 
labor, and now worked for the family of the 
keeper of the County Alms-house. They were 
all confirmed Universalists, very free to advo- 
cate their sentiments and often read aloud their 
books and papers. I knew but little of their 
peculiar views and did not u take heed, lest ye 
be carried about with every wind of doctrine," 
and often asked them questions about their 
faith, which they were ready to answer, hoping 
to bring me to their church; not that they cared 
for me, but it was Satan working through them 
to destroy the work of grace in me. 

As I have seen persons inspired to speak by 
the Holy Ghost, so have I many times seen 
that man inspired by This spirit to explain his 
doctrine, and soar above God's justice to his 
love and great kindness to the world, so that 
he would speak with such a powei and influ- 
ence as to draw and deceive many who were 
weak in the true faith, or unguarded. 

For a time I maintained my ground, but at 



OF GEORGE DOTTKLE. 155 

last I began to look more favorably upon it. I 
never felt a doubt of the rightfulness of the 
doctrine that had saved me, but was tempted I 
could add their belief to it. Their conclusions 
soon seemed reasonable, and there was no ob- 
jection I could bring up but that was overthrown 
either by the original meaning of Bible terms 
or their explanations of different truths. 

As I gave ear to these things my mind be- 
came confused and so blinded that by degrees 
I lost my power and love, until all was gone, 
and I was a fit subject for the enemy to entice 
and entangle; and for some time I was tossed 
about with influences that, though affording di- 
version to the mind, caused me the most intense 
suffering, and though I was conscious of the 
loss I did not know the cause or why I was so 
weak as to hardly withstand anything. I was 
invited to go with them to their church, which 
I did, and on the way home a horrible feeling 
seized me, and for days I felt the torments of 
hell; day and night there was no cessation. I 
could neither eat nor sleep, and was worn out 
with the pangs I endured. I cried unto the 
Lord to show me a way out of this, and at last 
this Scripture came to me : "Now the Spirit 
speaketh expressly, that in the last days some 
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to se- 
ducing spirits and doctrines of devils." 

In these words I saw my trouble, and by add- 



156 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ing to my covenant the weakness that caused 
my fall I was delivered from the suffering and 
confusion and restored to my love and power, 
and was soon drawn into a closer relationship 
with God, where my spirit was united to him 
as the home of the soul, and I knew the truths 
Mr. D. quoted after his fall to the floor, before 
mentioned. My eyes were now opened to the 
truth, and I saw the foundation of the Univer- 
salis t faith is in the rejection of a total de- 
pravity," and if this be admitted, much of 
their reasoning is plain, and many of their con- 
clusions correct. 

I now remembered hearing Mr. D. say of 
this sect : " What is the use of arguing about 
that which has no foundation in the Bible, and 
is but refined infidelity at the best % If there 
is proof of an endless state of happiness for the 
good, so there is the same proof of an endless 
state of misery for the wicked. The effort re- 
sulting in churches and schools, numbers and 
wealth, to which they point as evidence of God' s 
approval, is more foolish than the doctrine, for 
what is the use of any instruction or effort if all 
are to be finally saved V 

I could now see how all sects had many oc- 
currences on record to show God's mysterious 
and almost miraculous dealings as proof that 
he designed their origin, and that their pros- 
perity in numbers and wealth was evidence of 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 157 

God's blessing, yet I thought the slave and 
liquor dealers could claim God's blessing for 
the same reason. I saw the churches, without 
exception, were leaning toward this view of 
the future, and in none of them is the love of 
the natural heart disapproved, so that human 
sympathy being cultivated, none can bear the 
thought of their friends being lost; and though 
the dead leave no evidence behind of a prepara- 
tion to meet God in peace, yet the Scriptures 
must be made to bend so as to give them a 
chance in the hands of a merciful God of gain- 
ing heaven. 

So, as I had often heard the family say, " in 
the orthodox churches heaven is made for our 
friends and hell for our enemies." But hell 
for any one is nearly an obsolete term, and the 
justice of God is merged into his mercy until 
they make him see as man sees, and the awful 
reality of the lost is avoided and covered over 
until you cannot find a church-goer but who 
would say, if asked, that he loves God, but he 
has never heard it was necessary to keep his 
commandments. Universalism is but the full- 
blown flower of the bud started in the other 
churches, and who have but to take one more 
step to reach the same conclusions. 

As I saw the awful snare that had so nearljr 
proved my eternal ruin, — that the same gilded 
influence was gaining ground in the churches,. 



158 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

that the courts of justice were daily becoming 
more compromising in their attitude toward 
wrong from the same cause, and that the whole 
world was bowing to this last satanic idol, I felt 
no language was too strong to use in its condem- 
nation. And when, as they predicted, I at last 
saw the New Version of the Bible, I could see 
the advocates of this hellish doctrine jubilant 
that its obscure points were at last made plain. 
On one occasion soon after, Mr. D. said : ' ' By 
the aid of the Evangelical Alliance the churches 
became amalgamated, Calvinist, Armenian and 
Universalist have thrown their differences into 
one common pile, and given to each other the 
right hand of fellowship to show the world how 
they love each other. And the time has come 
when the entire world has given its power to 
the Beast save they whose names are in the 
Book of Life; and whosoever has not the mark 
of this Beast in his forehead or hands is singled 
out for persecution, affliction and death. What 
is this Beast but this false profession ready to 
wound, tear and kill every spiritually alive 
soul ? What secures this mark but to give the 
least countenance to it ? Let one come out from 
it, refuse it aid and show its true character, and 
he will soon see whether he can buy or sell, 
whether he is not separated from their com- 
pany, deprived of honor and reputation, and 
made as the filth and off scouring of the world. 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 159 

But in all this we are enabled to rejoice that 
our eyes see the fulfillment of these prophecies, 
and our hearts feel the power of saving grace, 
and we have the prospect of final and eternal 
felicity at last." 

I had felt the mark of this Beast, and its na- 
ture, like IngersolPs substitute for the Chris- 
tian religion, was human love and sympathy, 
and being delivered from it, I rejoiced and felt 
" I would rather suffer affliction with the peo- 
ple of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin 
for a season having respect unto the recompense 
of reward." 

I here met the high and low, the rich and 
poor, and had many opportunities to observe 
the influences and motives which govern the 
actions of mankind. But of all that I saw 
nothing impressed me so much as the unscrip- 
tural dress, manners and influence of women. 
Instead of being clothed in modest apparel 
and shamefacedness, their adornment that of 
a meek and quiet spirit, their attitude that 
of subjection, like Sarah, who called her hus- 
band lord, she is found clothed in that which 
most attracts, even if immodest, her manner 
bold, and her influence on those to whom she 
should be a model of virtue a temptation to 
evi], and in all her deportment very far re- 
moved from the original design of her creation. 
To all this where is the man who lifts up his 



160 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

voice in anything but praise and commenda- 
tion ? I saw the churches honeycombed with 
unlawful love, stalking abroad at noonday un- 
rebuked and the great mantle of charity thrown 
over it; avarice, lust, or pride, as the ruling 
motives that govern all unregenerated hearts, 
and none to search for the old land-marks; the 
truth corrupted and the refinement so great 
that these evils, if even mentioned, gave offense, 
and must be winked at and let alone; and I did 
not wonder that the Savior said : u When I 
come again shall I find faith on the earth ?" 

In getting a knowledge of false doctrines 
and seeing the right in contrast I became es- 
tablished in the truth, and though opposed and 
persecuted, I stayed until I could see no farther 
good to be realized and the way opened for me 
to leave. I was now so humbled by suffering 
that my nature was united to that of the Savior 
who was meek and lowly in heart, and soon 
after I felt as though in paradise, not as a lo- 
cation, but as a state of the heart. I was per- 
fectly happy for many weeks, with not a shadow 
of doubt between the Lord and L 

I then went to a place where my circumstances 
were the most trying of all I had ever known 
and were in no way subject to my control. I 
chaffed under them and had many a conflict, 
but at length saw it was God's hand, which I 
acknowledged, and then there came a great 



OF GEORGE DUJSTKLE. 161 

change in my feelings so that I felt that I could 
live there alway and be happy and contented. 

Soon my health failed and I was obliged to 
leave. I hardly knew what to do, not able to 
work, and not willing to be dependent, but 
finally went into a small family. What con- 
flicts I had here none but God knew. I had 
left all for the Gospel, and to be obliged to 
labor when I felt hardly able to stand, and suf- 
fering constantly, seemed hard to bear. I was 
sorely tempted that God was unjust in his 
dealings with me. I now began to know some- 
thing of the Christian' s warfare with the rulers 
of the darkness of this world, the Prince of the 
power of the air. I saw all around me the 
wicked at ease, faring sumptuously every day^ 
every wish granted, every pain alleviated, and 
I who had chosen this narrow way obliged to 
work when so weak as to be thought indolent, 
and through my blinding tears could scarcely 
see to do it well. 

Not a soul on earth knew anything of all 
this. I fought the battle through alone, ancj 
finally saw God, who would have a tried people, 
had thus left me to see if my confidence would 
remain in his attribute of justice under the 
most fiery ordeal. After seeing this I loved 
him more than ever before, and my submission 
to him was so great that I could have endured 
all possible suffering for his sake. 



162 BELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

My health began to improve and I soon left 
this place, and Mrs. D. being alone they invit- 
ed me to come there, and I remained with them 
nearly four years. 

I was now brought into the realization of the 
first and great commandment, ' ' Thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all 
thy soul, and with all thy mind." 

One morning as they came out to breakfast 
Mr. D, said : "I had a wonderful revelation 
last night. The Spirit gave me light on a sub- 
ject little understood in the world, though 
much has been said and written; and in all I 
have read I could never get a clear knowledge 
of it until now. It is the doctrine of the Trinity ; 
the Spirit gave both the questions and answers 
as follows : ' What composes the plan of hu- 
man redemption?' ; Deity.' ' What composes 
Deity V Three personalities, designated the 
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, all equal 
in wisdom, knowledge and power, and being 
mysteriously united in One, form the Godhead 
or Deity. The Father is the procuring cause> 
the Son the meritorious cause, and the Holy 
Ghost the efficient cause. Before the founda- 
tion of the world or the creation of man, Deity 
conceived this plan, so that in case man used 
his ability in disobedience there might be ready 
a way to rescue him from the thraldom and 
death into which his sin would plunge him. 



OF GEOKGE DUJSTKLE. 1^3 

Having created angels with but a spiritual na- 
ture not susceptible to a change, but with pow 
er to obey or disobey, as is seen by the war in 
heaven, God, in his wisdom, created man with 
a two-fold nature composed of matter and spirit 
— the spirit immortal, the matter subject to 
change — and delegated to him the power of 
choice, so that if of his own free will he loved 
and obeyed his Creator, he would be an object 
in which his Creator might take infinite delight. 
Having chosen to disobey, the Father, the pro- 
curing cause, still loved him so as to send his 
only begotten Son, begotten in this mortal na- 
ture, into the world to die, the just for the un- 
just, to bring him back to God. Christ, the 
meritorious cause, took not on him the nature 
of angels but the seed of Abraham, that having 
the same mortal nature as man, sin excepted, 
he could offer himself a sacrifice for sin, and 
thus man could become as he was previous to 
transgression. The Holy Ghost is the efficient 
cause of this plan, for without his office work 
it would be wholly inoperative, so that as the 
Savior said, ' If I go not away the Comforter 
will not come.' His work is to reprove of sin, 
of righteousness and of judgment, to convince 
the soul of its sinful state, to enlighten him on 
his duty to God, to himself and the world, and 
to lead him to the shed blood, without which 
there is no remission of sin. Here is the great- 



164 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

est scheme embracing the greatest wisdom the 
world has ever known, and in comparison the 
united wisdom of all minds, in all ages, is but 
as nothing. I do not wonder at the adoration 
when ' all glory, honor wisdom and power' is 
given to this Being, and the angels and re- 
deemed cry with one voice, ' Allelujah ! salva- 
tion belongeth unto our God !' " 

At one time in speaking of God's attributes 
he said: " There is but one thing God does 
not know, and that is the use man will make 
of his ability, it being wholly delegated to him. 
If this is not true, Calvinism is true, for if God 
foreknew what souls would be lost or saved 
then he created them for that purpose, and the 
decrees of God being unchangeable man could 
not help himself and would not be at all re- 
sponsible ; and if so, why does he address him 
in his Word as a being responsible for his acts 
by which he will be judged and condemned or 
approved. How could it be reasonable for God 
to call upon all to come and be saved if he 
Jcnew some would not; and if he knew of some 
who would be lost, why does he mock those by 
saying, ' Though your sins be as scarlet I will 
make them white as snow V In fact, what a 
being God would be if, knowing thousands of 
souls would go down to the pit in every age, 
he would continue the ages and the multiplicity 
of souls for that purpose. No,, rather let us. 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 165 

look upon God as a being who has given the 
knowledge of man' s destiny into his own hands, 
and who by creating no two with just the same 
natural dispositions, placing no two in just the 
same circumstances, tries by all means to save 
all; and having placed before him the evil and 
the good, with the consequences of each both 
in time and eternity, and held out all the in- 
ducements possible to obedience and drawn 
him by the influence of his love, yet leaves him, 
without coercion, to act freely of his own will. 
To such beings God can reasonably send out 
this invitation : ' Come unto me all ye ends of 
the earth and be ye saved.' And what greater 
joy can he find in all his creation than in those 
souls who have voluntarily given the obedience 
required." 

At first I thought this was taking from God's 
great character, but this truth was given me : 
' ' And God saw that the wickedness of man 
was great in the earth and that every imagina^ 
tion of the thoughts of his heart was only evil 
continually, and it repenteth the Lord that he 
had made man upon the earth and it grieved 
him at his heart." 

Why should he repent and be grieved if he 
knew that man would take this sinful course ? 
I could see that this view of God and man threw 
the entire responsibility of salvation upon man's 
choice and obedience. I asked: "Why are 



166 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

there so few who obey God ?" and lie answered r 
u There are several reasons. First, the heart 
being inclined to evil, it is easy to glide along 
in its natural channel without making the ef- 
fort to turn — for effort it must be, if heaven is 
gained; not seeking but striving, and this effort 
and all acts of obedience are crossing to this nat- 
ural way, and hard to do. Then the temptations 
of Satan are another source of hindrance, as 
he can make the right way appear much more 
difficult than it really is, and the wrong way 
much like the right, and more desirable. But 
the main cause is the false teaching, which 
prevents man from feeling his own responsibil- 
ity, so that many never think of looking for 
themselves, but as their fathers have done so 
do they, and simply receive all they hear, if it 
only comes through the church of their choice. 
God's Word is as really rejected now as was 
the Savior and his teachings while on earth. 
This condition of the world has grown worse 
since my remembrance. There is an increase 
of numbers but a decrease of reality; and in- 
crease of mind cultivation but a decrease of 
heart purity; and judging from history and 
prophesy it will never be better." 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 167 



CHAPTER IX. 

For months after going to Mr. D.'s I felt a 
great desire to abandon all care or wish for my- 
self, and leaving God to take entire control of 
me, make of me what he pleased and mould 
every thought and way according to his will, 
and I used often to sing, 

" What is my being but for Thee'' etc. 

But I little knew what this desire implied, 
and what sufferings within and persecutions 
without were being prepared for me, when all 
that was valued by the natural life was taken 
and only the life hid with Christ in God left. 
My heart was soon stripped of all sensible en- 
joyment, and though my faith and confidence 
remained the same, I was filled with sorrow and 
acquainted with grief, and was taken into a 
state of great inward suffering such as I had 
never known. I often had undoubted proofs 
of God's favor, and was led into greater knowl- 
edge of truths and a yet deeper experience of 
his love, but there seemed to be little things 
(though there are no little things with the 
Lord), like habits of spirit and manner received 
by tradition or association, that did not savor of 



168 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

the simplicity of the Savior, and were like 
fibers interwoven into my very being. This 
suffering, in which the furnace was heated 
seven times hotter than was wont, brought 
these hidden things to light, which, when re- 
vealed, was self in her various forms, but al- 
ways superior to the example left to imitate. 
As I saw these things so great was my desire 
that God would have his own way with me that 
I would hold my heart open to him and say : 

" Only Thou possess the whole, 
Take my body, spirit, soul." 

This suffering seemed to be the effect of in- 
fluences from Satan which I had no power to 
avoid or remove, and like as a person fastened 
in burning flames, so all I could do was to hold 
•still and endure. I often cried to the Lord for 
help and would receive answers like these : 
" He that overcometh will I grant to sit with 
with me on my throne;" " Christ, though a 
Son, learned obedience by the things he suffered 
and was thus made perfect;" cc Christ suffered 
for us, leaving us an example that we should 
follow his steps;" u After ye have suffered 
awhile he will make you perfect, stablish, 
strengthen, settle you," and many others to 
show me it was God who was thus molding me 
for himself. 

For nearly three years this continued. I 
could see that its effect was humiliation, great- 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 169 

er and greater, until I was willing to be a foot- 
stool for the entire world if need be. I could 
see nothing lower than myself, and had no 
dread or fear of anything that could be said of 
me or done against me, neither could any pros- 
perity or honor exalt me, as my state being 
fixed in God, my happiness was not in any way 
dependent on circumstances. My suffering 
continued until I felt like one who, having suf- 
fered until he could suffer no more, shrank at 
nothing that could be brought upon him, and 
I was so united to the Savior that I could say : 
"Lo, I come to do thy will, O God ;" and de- 
sired for myself nothing but what he desired 
for me, receiving as gladly suffering as joy. In 
this humility I was below the reach of those in- 
fluences which had caused me such anguish, 
and gradually it passed away and left me with- 
out a choice or preference in life. 

In whatever state I found myself I was there- 
with content. All states were equally well 
received, and being risen with Christ my af- 
fection was set on things above, and I was his 
child ready to do his bidding in time and eter- 
nity. 

There was a lady sixty years of age who 
with her husband were members of the Hope- 
well church, and just before I began to work 
for Mr. D. she came to the meetings and said : 
u I have been a member of the Wesleyan soci- 



170 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ety since its formation, and my house has been 
a home for the preachers and their families, 
whom I have gladly entertained, even when 
worn out by the care and labor of my own fam- 
ily, because I believed them to be God' s minis- 
ters. I have looked to them for light and in- 
struction both at home and from the pulpit, 
but I could get none. I want to be saved, and 
feel willing to make any sacrifice to become so,, 
but know not what to do, and there seems to 
be none to tell me. I know I have been con- 
verted, and at the Naples camp-meeting, as 
you remember, I realized a pure heart and was 
baptized with the Holy Ghost, but have had 
nothing satisfactory for years. I know I have 
not long to live, and feel that I must get a prep- 
aration to meet God in peace." 

Mr. D. talked with her and she was soon re- 
stored, and continued in the faith, realized all 
the advanced points in experience, and was a 
witness to this faith with her dying breath. 
Her family opposed her, and her husband, who 
stood as a model Christian and was an accept- 
able church member, was strongly sympa- 
thized with because of her course, and became 
her bitterest enemy, and she was made to suf- 
fer what few do in this land, which gives liber- 
ty of conscience to all, have suffered. More 
than once did she come with marks of violence 
on her person; and once when her face and 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 171 

eye had been blackened by cruel blows which 
could not be concealed, it was reported that she 
had received them by a fall and then charged 
it to her husband. This was believed by his 
sympathizers, who prayed that he might have 
grace to bear such persecution from his delud- 
ed companion. Her testimony was cast aside 
as falsehood and her name was cast out as evil. 
She lived six miles from Mr. D.'s, and though 
all the other members of the family had a horse 
to drive at their pleasure, she, though having 
worked hard through the week for their com- 
fort, was obliged to walk to the meeting of her 
choice, and was often passed on the road by 
the horse and carriage her labor had helped to 
buy. This with the daily abuse received was 
hard to bear, but she did not murmur, and 
often said : " God knows what is best for me, 
and I must not wish to go to heaven on flowery 
beds of ease." She came many times when so 
much exhausted that I was obliged to help her 
up the steps, and she would say: "I am so 
thankful to get here." 

She was often forbidden to go again, and 
there were many ways taken to prevent her 
from doing so, but whenever she felt it duty a 
way was opened by which to elude them, and 
she would come, saying : u Grod is more than 
a match for my enemies." 

Her health failed, and one Sunday as I was 



172 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

taking her home she said: " All of you ex- 
cepting Mrs. are forbidden to come to 

my house. If you should not hear from me in 
a long time tell her to come for me, and if able 
I will go with her to see God's dear people." 

Several weeks passed by and no tidings of 

her, and then Mrs. went to see her. She 

was weak, but able to walk, and said: "X 
will go with you." 

This was opposed by the family, who were 

very abusive to Mrs. , and finally they 

locked the door and took the key. The lady 
waited a few moments and then, as if filled 
with power they dared not interfere with, put 
on her wraps and walked out of the back door 

to the carriage unopposed. Mrs. stood a 

moment then turned to the window, raised the 
sash, stepped out and drove away with her 
feeble friend, who said: " God has delivered 
us." 

We were rejoiced to see her once more, and 
she said: U I have but a short time to live, 
and wish the society and counsel of my Chris- 
tian friends, and will never go back unless I 
can have the liberty given me by the laws of 
the land." 

Different members of the family came to see 
her, to whom she said : " When you will al- 
low my friends to call on me peaceably I will 
return, if not I will die here, and be buried by 
and among them." 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 173 

They finally granted her request and she 
went back. When I called she had failed so 
much that she could say but little, but after 
resting said : "The Lord has put all my ene- 
mies under Ms feet, and I have kept the faith 
and endured all he suffered to come upon me, 
and we will all get a just reward. I have suc- 
ceeded in what I undertook — the salvation of 
my soul. I have waded through deep waters, 
but they have not gone over my head, and the 
fires kindled around me have only consumed 
the wrongs in me, and I am a living monument 
of God's saving mercy. I have no fear of the 
future, and my chief consolation is in these 
words : 

" ' Holy Bible, book divine, 
Precious treasure tTwu art mine.' " 

She lived but a few days after this, and her 
last words were, " I am firm in the faith." 

Her husband died not long after, and their 
bodies rest side by side, but the separation in 
spirit which existed in time will last to all eter- 
nity. 

There was a man staying with a neighbor, 
whom I will call Mr. L., who had once been a 
Free Methodist preacher, but who had been re- 
jected by them and had become very dissolute. 
He was out of employment and Mr. D. gave 
him a job of carpenter work, and from that he 
came to meeting and claimed to be restored. 



174 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

but was not received among us as lie never 
brought forth the true fruits of repentance. 
The neighbor came to meeting with him, and 
was deeply convicted. They were both invet- 
erate tobacco chewers. 

One night Mr. D. said: "I am impressed 
with this truth : ' Having therefore these prom- 
ises, leC us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness 
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in 
the fear of the Lord.' This truth implies both 
an outward and an inward work. Jhe outward 
to be done by the person to whom this truth is 
spoken, the inward by God. This filthiness^of 
the flesh implies all unlawful appetites, habits 
and practices. All contracted appetites are 
unlawful, and all unlawful appetites are sinful, 
and unless the person indulging in them cleanses 
himself from them and puts them forever away 
he can never 'perfect holiness in the fear of 
the Lord, 5 and the inward cleansing will not be 
realized. Habits of long standing are difficult 
to break, but can be overcome by the power of 
the will; and if the same effort in the cause of 
temperance and moral reform were put forth 
to teach the people the responsibility God has 
invested them with, it would wipe out every 
such society in the land. God set the tree in 
the midst of the garden and said : ' Of its fruit 
thou shalt not eat, for in the day thou eatest 
it thou shalt surely die. 5 Now this glorious 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 175 

godlike ability is covered over with layer after 
layer, until, as for a spoiled child, the tempta- 
tion must be put out of sight as he cannot re- 
sist it. But this is not God s way of dealing 
with the human family; and if men were taught 
that G-od would hold them responsible for 
every unholy act there would be less ungodli- 
ness and dissipation both in and out of the 
churches. Do you think God will answ T er your 
prayers when you are indulging in anything 
that would not be approved in heaven ? Will 
he compromise the matter and let you indulge 
in things enjoyable but doubtful ? Rather lose 
your right eye or hand than that your whole 
body be cast into hell." 

This testimony struck to the hearts of those 
two men, and they saw there was no use of 
professing religion here and continue their 
filthy habit ; and after talking the matter over 
concluded they did not believe it duty to be so 
strict, and they never came again. 

Mr. L. was a widower and void of any prin- 
ciple, and soon began a secret correspondence 
with the daughter of Mrs. C, who was but six- 
teen years of age, and during her mother's ab- 
sence took her to the village and they were 
married. Mrs. C. on her return was nearly 
wild with grief, as the child was her idol, and 
she determined to separate them. She told 
Mr. D. her intention and he said: "Such a 



176 EELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

course would be condemned by the law of Q-od 
and the land, They are lawfully married, and 
I advise you to let them alone lest something 
worse come upon you." One of our sisters 
was given this message to deliver to her : "If 
ye walk contrary to me, saith the Lord, I will 
bring seven times more plagues upon you, ac- 
cording to your sins. I will send wild beasts 
among you which shall rob you of your chil- 
dren, and destroy your cattle, and your way 
shall be desolate ; and if ye will not yet be re- 
formed by these things, but will walk contrary 
to me, then will I walk contrary to you in 
fury." She rejected these truths as not appli- 
cable to her case, and seemed greatly offended. 
She laid her plans for the separation and final- 
ly carried them out. Her daughter came home 
and Mr. L. left for parts unknown, and was 
never seen by either of them afterward. Fear- 
ing Mr. L. would try to secure his wife by a 
legal process, Mrs. C. sent her among her 
friends in the West. She was gone nearly a 
year and came back, and in a few months she 
became a mother. Several months afterward, 
one evening as I was passing by, Mrs. L. came 
out and asked to walk with me. I consented, 
and she said: "I know I have led a very 
wicked life and my character is ruined, but for 
weeks I have felt that I might still save my 
soul. If I do not make the effort now I fear 



OF GEOKGE DUj^KLE. 177 

I shall be lost forever, and I felt like telling 
yon this." I advised her to turn to the Lord 
by all means, and let nothing hinder her from 
seeking the forgiveness of her sins and making 
her peace with God now, while the Spirit was 
striving with her, lest he leave her, and then 
it would be impossible to do so. After urging 
this upon her, I said: "The Savior did not 
reject the contrition of such as you, and if you 
will turn from your wicked ways I will be 
your Mend and will always stand by you.' 5 
She wept and was deeply affected. 

She came to the meeting the next Sunday 
and said: "I have departed from the path of 
virtue and have sinned against God, but desire 
to become a Christian, that I may be prepared 
to die." 

She continued to seek until she found the 
desire of her heart. We all loved her, feeling 
that what "God had cleansed we were not to 
call common or unclean." 

Her mother, who had so loved her, now be- 
gan to oppose her in many ways. The child 
was an object of contention. Mrs. C. wanted 
it indulged in every wish and never corrected ; 
Mrs. L., whom God began to teach, felt it duty 
to govern her own child, and that she could 
not retain God's favor unless she "trained up 
her child in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord." But if she undertook to punish it, 



178 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

her mother would take the child away from 
her by force. Things went on in this way for 
three years, when Mrs. L. came to me and 
said : " It is impossible for me to lead a Chris- 
tian life at home, and I am going to leave ; 
there is nothing I feel is duty but what is op- 
posed, and it is constant war over the child, 
and I am going out to work." 

I feared for the consequences, but exhorted 
her to faithfulness to God and to be circum- 
spect in her deportment, as there would be 
many temptations to evil ; and that because of 
her former character she might better be doub- 
ly retiring in her manner. She worked in a 
number of different places, and at first re- 
mained steadfast to her faith ; but it was soon 
evident she had lost her enjoyment, and she 
gradually gave up her profession of religion. 
She still came to the meeting, and as she was 
to become again a mother I said to her : "X 
promised to stand by you as a friend as long 
as you lived an upright life. I have kept my 
pledge to you, though I have many times been 
sneered at for doing so. Now, for the sake of 
the cause you once loved, do not come here 
ag^in, as it will give ground for reflection that 
the character of the place is like your own. 
You had better go far away where your double 
disgrace will not be known, and you can yet turn 
from evil, and perad venture God may forgive 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 179 

you." She left me very sadly, and went away 
for a time, and then came back to her mother. 
All the time we received her there was not a 
person in the neighborhood who would invite 
her to their houses or associate with her in any 
way. When Mrs. C. saw we would not give 
her daughter any countenance she was highly 
indignant, and said many things against the 
stand we had taken, as being unchristianlike 
and overbearing ; and once in the presence of 
Mr. and Mrs. D., Miss J. and myself she said : 
4 ' You do not know it all. My daughter is as 
pure as an angel, and you, who profess to be 
so Christlike, have spurned her." Then turn- 
ing to Miss J. and I, with flashing eyes and 
lips quivering with rage, she said : U I will yet 
bring you two girls down on a level with her." 
I supposed it but an idle threat, given in the 
heat of anger to induce us to recognize Mrs. L., 
but how fully she carried out her revenge 
when she found we could not be influenced 
will be seen. 



180 BELIGIOUS EXPEKIENCE 



CHAPTER X. 

There lived near by a Mr. 0., with his wife 
and one child. He had confidence in Mr. D. 
and had talked with him on religious matters, 
aad being directed to the Bible he began to 
read it, and was soon converted at home, and 
now came to the meeting with his family. As 
the Lord began to teach him he saw the need 
of governing his child, who had never been 
made to obey and was quite stubborn. He said 
to Mr. D.: "I have supposed that to subdue a 
child was to break his spirit, and that it would 
be a lifelong injury to him. What are your 
views on the subject ?" Mr. D. replied: "Pa- 
rental authority is strongly enjoined in the 
Scriptures, so much so that under the law, if 
a son would not submit to it, he was con- 
demned to be stoned. If the spirit of the child 
is not made to yield to this authority he be- 
comes a shame to his parents and a trouble- 
some child in the community. Wesley says: 
'A child left without subjection to the will of 
his parents is brought up for hell;' as, if he is 
not taught to obey his parents, how will he 
obey his Maker? This is why, if a child is 



OF GEORGE DTWKLE. 181 

trained in the way lie should go he will not 
depart from it ; his habits of obedience and the 
impressions stamped on his tender heart will 
follow him through life. So well do the Cath- 
olics understand this that they say : ' If we 
can have a child until the age of seven years 
we care not under what influence he may be 
placed afterward, he will be a true Catholic at 
last.' The Scripture says: 'Chasten thy son 
while there is hope, and let not thy Soul spare 
for his crying;' and the silly sympathy which 
forbids the rod when needed to enforce obedi- 
ence is a disgrace to any parent. Children 
should be a source of pleasure to all, but no 
ungoverned child is anything but an affliction 
anywhere; and where there is one parent who 
governs his child there are thousands of chil- 
dren who govern their parents; but no parent 
can long obey the Lord without seeing divine 
obligations in this direction, and if there is not 
faithfulness to this light of truth it is the end 
of progress." 

There were several women who came to the 
meeting, and to them I said : "If Mrs. O. does 
not become a Christian there will be the sepa- 
ration in spirit spoken of by the Savior, ' Hd 
that is not for me is against me,' and to avoid 
all the occasion possible I feel we should say 
no more to Mr. O. than common civility and 
duty demand;" and we followed this course. 



182 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

But if God wills the blasting of fair reputa- 
tions no prudence can prevent it, but the inno- 
cent have the consolation of having ' ; walked 
in wisdom toward them that are without." 

Mrs. O. continued to come to the meeting 
and took as active a part in the exercises as 
her husband; we all treated her with the great- 
est kindness, and though we had no confidence 
there was any reality in her profession, yet we 
all tried to show her the way of truth as we 
knew it, and the importance of walking in it. 

After a time she came to me and said: "I 
have a new dress and wish to make it up plain- 
ly as yon wear them, but Mr. O. wishes me to 
trim it fashionably; what would you advise me 
to do?" I replied: "I do not wish to interfere 
between you and your husband, but is it not 
strange that he wishes you to be fashionable, 
when he endorses the doctrine taught here?" 
The color came to her face and she changed 
the subject. I afterward told this to Mr. D., 
who said: u By their fruits ye shall know them. 
God is evidently leading Mr. O., and if he were 
not sincere he would not be advancing in 
grace." 

Often after this she came to me for an hour's 
conversation, and always said something de- 
signed to shake my confidence in Mr. O., but I 
would make no reply, and one day she asked 
for a private interview with me. I granted it 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 18? 

and she said : "Do you not think I had better 
stay away from the meetings?" I was aston- 
ished and said: "Why do yon ask me such a 
question?" She replied : "Because things are 
very unpleasant at home, and though I want 
to save my soul, I thought perhaps you want- 
ed me to stay away." As I had always treat- 
ed her with great kindness I knew she had not 
the least cause for such an inference. I felt 
this was dishonest and at first thought to pass, 
it by in silence, as I had many times done be- 
fore; but as this same course had been pursued 
for more than a year, I now looked to God for 
direction, and his power came upon me, and 
looking steadily at her I said : "Mrs. O., you 
are playing the part of a hypocrite; you have 
been as well treated here by all as your hus- 
band, and* your effort has been, since his con- 
version, not to save your soul as you have so 
often averred, but to destroy our confidence in 
him, and had we not a Holy Spirit by which 
to judge souls instead of judging by what we 
hear about them, as your neighbors do, we, too, 
would be deceived by your testimony. You 
know your husband is a child of God; all you 
have done against him you have done against 
the Savior. And look at the sins you have 
been committing for so long a time ! Suppose 
that you die to night, what will be your fate?" 
She was deeply affected and said: "Hell is an 



184 EELIGIOUS EXPEEIEJN-OE 

awful place. I do not wish to be lost." I 
paused a moment and then said: "Now, hon- 
estly, has there been a word of truth in all you 
have said against your husband ?" She wait- 
ed a long time and then burst into tears and 
said: "No; I have tried to deceive you pur- 
posely so that if he saw you had no confidence 
in him he would stop coming here; I will not 
do so again." I said all I could to her to show 
her the awful result of such a course in time 
and eternity, and she went home. 

All was quiet for a long time, when she began 
again, this time at Mr. D., to whom she insin- 
uated that all was not as it should be between 
her husband and myself. For several months 
this continued; every few days she came to him 
when he was in the garden or yard and charged 
Mr. 0. with something wrong, always prefac- 
ing it with her great desire to save her soul. 

One day after she had talked a long time he 
fastened his eyes on her and said : " Have you 
been telling me the truth ?" After a pause she 
said: "No." "Then," said he, u what object 
have you in view that you take such a course ?" 
"Because I hope to move my husband," she 
replied. "And so," he said, "you are not 
content to be lost yourself, but mean, if possi- 
ble, to take him with you. By your lies and 
misrepresentations you have turned the com- 
munity against him and keep the neighborhood 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 18^ 

In commotion. God will work this out for his 
good, but you, what will your end be ! You 
will certainly get your pay in time or eternity." 
As she slowly walked away, she said : "Mrs. 
C. stands by me in this.' ' He replied : ' ' Mrs. 
C. will also get her reward." Again all was 
quiet for some time. 

One day all the family went away and left 
me alone. After finishing my work I shut up 
the front part of the house and went to my 
room to rest. After an hour or two I heard a 
slight noise below, and coming down stairs 
there stood Mrs. O. in the kitchen. She looked 
very much excited, and said angrily : "Where 
is Mr. 0.?" 

The back door stood open, affording a view 
of much of the farm, and glancing up I saw 
Mr. O. and his man in the farthest lot at work, 
so I pointed and said : "There he is; did you 
want to see him?" 

"No," she said, with a Satanic smile, "I 
thought perhaps he was in here and I came in 
quietly to see." 

I did not speak for a long time, and then I 
talked to her as I had never done to any one. 
Kindly but decidedly I showed her the abom- 
inable course she was taking and its end; the 
awful consequences of trying to destroy the 
moral influence of God's people by falsehoods, 
behind which, -to the world, she hid in perfect 
innocence. 



186 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

When I finished she was very angry and said: 
"I have it in my power to destroy your repu- 
tation, and I mean to do it." 

I only said: u You may succeed in what 
you have undertaken, but it will not destroy 
my spiritual enjoyment, and you can go no 
farther than God will permit you for my good 
and his glory." 

She went away muttering vengeance on me. 
I sat down and thought it all over. I was sat- 
isfied Mrs. C. was doing all in her power secret- 
ly to aid this flame already kindled, and the 
world was giving a willing ear to it and I knew 
not what would come next; but a great storm 
was gathering and I committed it all to God, 
whom I now loved so well that I was confident 
he who had led me through such inward suf- 
fering in order to humiliate my spirit would 
also allow all manner of evil to be said that all 
truth might be fulfilled in me, so that I might 
be a companion with the Savior in outward 
humiliation also, so I knelt and prayed : ' ' Dear 
Lord, I am in thy hands, do with me as seemeth 
thee good." 

Mrs. O. continued to come to the meeting as 
before. Their child, now old enough to talk, 
often came in, using the vilest language and 
calling me the most vulgar names that tongue 
could inve it. 

Mr. D. one day asked him : " Where did you 
hear such v\ords?" 



OF GEORGE DUJSTKLE. 187 

He replied : " Ma-ma told me to say so." 

One Sunday as she passed me going out of 
the yard she said : u As you do not believe in 
husband and wife going together I think I will 
not come to the meeting any more." 

I replied: " Unless you intend to change 
your course we would all prefer you to stay 
away." She made a wry face at me and passed 
on. 

The next Sunday she came again, and I said 
to her : " I feel impressed to ask you to read 
the fifty-second Psalm, and you will see how 
God looks upon you." Whether she read it 
or not she stopped coming, and I heard noth- 
ing of her for a long time, and vainly supposed 
she was satisfied to let me alone. 

But one Saturday morning, having a great 
amount of labor on hand for the day, I arose 
very early and went to the barn to milk, leav- 
ing the door open behind me. I was about to 
commence milking when, hearing a step, I 
looked up and there stood Mrs. O. She looked 
like one in a frenzy, and said: "What do 
you mean by keeping my husband with you 
last night until after ten o'clock?" 

I made no reply and went to my work. She 
continued talking all the time I was milking 
one cow, using the most obscene language and 
accused me of all that was low and indecent. 
When I got up I reached to the door and closed 



188 BELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

it, but said not a word. Before ! had walked 
to the next cow she opened the door and rushed 
at me like an infuriated demon, using the most 
vulgar epithets, and struck me with her hand 
on the side of my face. I had the pail half 
full of milk in my left hand and a very heavy 
milking stool by one of its four legs in my 
right, and as she raised her hand to strike me 
the second time, as any one would naturally do 
in self-defense, but not with a thought to strike 
her, I raised my hand to ward off the blow, 
and the top of the stool, made of heavy plank, 
fell across her eye. She started back, saying : 
" There, you have struck me! Oh! yon have 
hurt me ! I will take the law on you now and 
you will suffer for this I" She went directly 
to our front door and knocked. Mr. D. opened 
it and she said : " Your girl had my husband 
here last night. I saw them together here on 
this stoop. I went to talk it over with her in 
the barn this morning and she struck me with 
the milking stool, and I will have her arrested." 
Mr. D. made no reply and she went home. 
On the way she met their hired boy, who had 
just started for the barn, and said that Mr. O. 
and I were in the garden among the grape 
vines. She then went to Mr. M., a relative, 
who had long wished for a way to wreak ven- 
geance on this cause, and especially on me be- 
cause of what he believed about me from Mrs. 
O.'s complaints. 



OF GEOKGE DUXKLE. 189 

When Mr. 0. came up to the barn Mr. D. in- 
quired what it all meant. "It is only what has. 
been threatened a long time. Last night I 
went to the neighbor's beyond you on busi- 
ness, started for home before nine o'clock, and 
reached it a few minutes after it struck, and 
Mrs. O. spent a good share of the night, as she 
has many others, in accusing me of infidelity to 
her and threats of what she would do to your 
girl. I have borne it all uncomplainingly for 
years as the cross given for my good, and when 
it will end I do not know." 

After she left me I looked to see if I had 
done anything to regret, and though she had 
been hit it was by no intention of doing so, and 
what no one could help doing when attacked 
unawares, and I felt I had done nothing to dis- 
grace myself before Grod or man, but was sure 
she would carry out her threat, and I prayed 
to God for grace to bear whatever he might see 
fit to allow. His blessing came upon me so 
that I could praise him for all events. 

Mr. D. did not believe they could be so fool- 
ish as to undertake legal steps, as so many knew 
Mrs. 0. to be so untruthful, but I looked for 
it, and sure enough about four o'clock in the 
afternoon a constable drove up with a summons 
to appear immediately before a justice in town. 

Mr. D. took me in, and all the way I thought 
of the Savior, who was taken before Pilate and 



190 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

so falsely accused as to be finally crucified be- 
tween two thieves, and that he said to his dis- 
ciples: "They will bring you before magis- 
trates and powers." I felt I was now a com- 
panion to them who were so used and could 
glory in -the cross of Christ. When we went 
into the justice's office — a place I had never 
seen before — there was Mrs. O. with her eye 
already blackened, her relative, her lawyer and 
the justice. The charge against me was that 1 
had assaulted her with a dangerous loeapon, 
and I was allowed a trial before the justice or 
to leave the case for the grand jury. I chose 
the latter, but that body would not consider it 
at all, and so the proceeding dropped. 

I went home and all that night and the next 
day I was so filled with God's love, and so 
many Scriptures were given me to enjoy, that I 
could think of nothing else. 

Monday I saw an Elmira paper with an item 
in the Canandaigua news telling of my arrest 
for assaulting Mrs. O. with a milking stool ! 
Two of the village papers also gave notice of 
the same, and hinted at jealousy in a way to 
cast it all on me. I now felt, and had it not 
been for the humility I had realized I could 
not have borne the disgrace thus brought upon 
me. Everywhere those papers were read, — 
where years before I had taught school and 
had a good name, among my relatives, where 



OF GEORGE DUjS"KLE. 191 

I had always been above reproach, — north, 
south, east and west, the news would fly. No 
accusation could place me lower — among the 
drunken, the outcasts and the lawbreakers. I 
I had been arrested for assaulting a poor woman 
whose husband she was trying to urge me to 
let alone ! This was the clear inference, and I 
was utterly powerless to change it. Not one 
outside of those to whom I was united in this 
faith would receive my testimony against all 
this evidence, which all seemed so anxious to 
believe. There was nothing left for me to do 
but to die to all but God, and after a season of 
severe suffering I felt I was dead to the world 
and the world was dead to me, the crucifixion 
being equal both ways, and I was like a bird 
with no place for the soles of its feet to rest on. 
But I felt in the elements of God's love I could 
soar forever, with no desire for that which the 
world had denied me. 

With my reputation wholly gone my influ- 
ence could extend only within the limit of the 
little company who worshiped here, and I was 
now joined to them as only Christians can be 
joined. Though I was disgraced beyond re- 
covery, my enemies were far from being satis- 
fied, and Mrs. C, now alive to the opportunity 
to farther carry out her threat to Miss J. and 
I, conceived a plan to disgrace Mr. D. as well, 
and so finally to break up the meeting here and 



192 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

scatter this religious influence to the winds. 
Her daughter was used as a tool to carry the 
project into execution. 

When Mrs. L. was the mother of but one 
illegitimate child Mr. and Mrs. M. cast off all 
friendship and would not deign to speak to 
Mrs. L., and even said if Mrs. O. continued to 
go to the meetings where Mrs. L. was received 
she must not come to their house. Now when 
Mrs. L. had two illegitimate children, not even 
bearing the same name, the two families be- 
came very intimate; and soon reports began to 
be circulated that Mr. D. taught that all who 
embraced his faith must greet him with a holy 
kiss ! and then soon after that they must also 
appear in a nude state before him ! 

Of one who had confidence in our integrity, 
who came to tell me these things, I asked: 
" Where did these reports come from?" She 
replied: "From Mrs. L., who declares she is 
knowing to the fact." I then said: " And is 
a woman with no morals a fit person to be be- 
lieved in such charges against a man who has 
lived so long in this place and against whom 
no one can say aught? Why has no respecta- 
ble person who has been here similar charges 
to make?" She replied: "That is what I 
have said, and no one would believe her if she 
was not backed up by Mr. M. and others of 
influence, who desire to break up these meet- 
ings if possible. 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 193 

Miss J. had always been on friendly terms 
with Mrs. M. and called on her. She was re- 
ceived very coolly, and soon the conversation 
turned on the awful things practiced at Mr. 
D.'s, which Miss J. stoutly denied, saying: "I 
have been going there a long time and worked 
for Mrs. D. several years, and I know all these 
reports to be false. It is strange that you, 
who have known Mr. D. so long, could believe 
such things of him." They charged her with 
falsehood, and after saying many abusive 
things to her, told her never to come there 
again, and in a few days told a neighbor that 
Miss J. had confessed the reports were true ! 



194 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 



CHAPTER XL 

Like an overwhelming wave the entire com- 
munity was drawn into the influence, and all 
believed more or less of the reports. 

One day Miss J. came in and said: U A con- 
stable called where I am living and left me this 
paper, which cites me to appear before the 
same justice to whom you were taken;" and 
looking at the paper we saw it was some crim- 
inal proceedings by Mrs. L., but we could not 
imagine what it could be and waited anxiously 
Miss J.'s return. When she returned she said: 
6 'Mr. M., Mrs. C. and Mrs. L. are trying to 
prove that this is a house of ill repute, and af- 
ter getting testimony enough hope to get it 
before the Grand Jury, and finally close the 
meetings." Mr. D.'s only reply was: u Is it 
possible that with such a character as Mrs. L., 
who was so low that we rejected her, they have 
undertaken such a work? They will never 
succeed in what they have undertaken." 

Several weeks passed and we heard nothing 
more, and as all statements made by Mrs. L. 
were denied by Miss J. we thought the matter 
was dropped ; but one morning a constable 



OF GEORGE DUj^KLE. 195 

called at Mr. D.'s and left a summons for me 
to appear before the justice. Mr. M., Mrs. C, 
the County-House keeper and his wife, with 
whom I had lived, were present, with the law- 
yer before employed by Mrs. O., and the 
justice. 

After being sworn I found I was there to an- 
swer yes or no to charges preferred against Mr. 
D. by Mrs. L. and her mother, Mrs. C. Many 
of the charges were too obscene to relate, and 
some beneath the level of the abandoned, but 
the main charges were that Mr. D. taught 
greetings with a holy kiss, appearing in a nude 
state before him, and criminal intimacy. Mrs. 
C. had also added her testimony as to the greet- 
ings, and that it was a common thing for all the 
sisters to sit on Mr. D.'s lap, and she even went 
back to my youthful days and found I had then 
kissed a man ! The justice asked : "What is 
that for V ' The lawyer replied : ' l To prove the 
disreputable character of those who congregate 
at Mr. D.'s," at which all smiled. 

To the charges, one and all, except the last, 
that of my younger days, I gave an uncondi- 
tional denial. There had been a report from 
the County House that the keeper' s wife had 
seen me sitting in the lap of one of the hired 
men, and she was summoned to confirm it; but 
under oath she said she had never seen an un- 
becoming act, never had anything against me, 



196 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

only that I would go so often to those meet- 
ings. I was resigned to the will of God in all 
this, but could not help feeling humiliated, es- 
pecially when the most indecent questions were 
asked me. I saw Mr. M. and the justice ex- 
change glances and smile, but I endured it 
without a feeling of resentment and committed 
it all to God. Mr. O. was called, and a man 
and his wife who had attended these meetings 
for nearly fifteen years; then they sent to an 
adjoining county for Mr. B. and his daughter, 
and lastly to the southern part of the State for 
a lady who, several years before, had attended 
these meetings; she was unable to come, and 
as she spoke only in Mr. D.'s favor, her testi- 
mony was dropped. The case was taken be- 
fore the Grand Jury, and the husband of that 
lady who walked six miles to the meeting was 
one of the jurors, and was bent on finding a 
bill. They called several more witnesses, 
among whom was Mrs. O., who, to our great 
surprise, testified that "I believe there is no 
wrong taught or practiced at Mr. D.'s, and I 
am sorry for all I have ever said against the 
girl who lives there, whom I believe to be a sin- 
cere Christian." When the testimony was 
summed up all the witnesses against Mr. D. 
were Mrs. L. and her mother, and the case fell 
for want of evidence to convict. 
Thus ended one of the most infamous schemes 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 197 

on record under this government, which affords 
liberty of conscience to all, to destroy the in- 
fluence and privileges of those whose only 
crime had been faithful dealing with those con- 
fessedly wicked and obedience to the Word of 
God. 

Mr. D. now said: ' 'It was shown me they would 
not succeed in what they undertook to do, and 
we have yet a place to worship God under our 
own vine and tig tree, with none to molest or 
make us afraid; what we have just been called 
upon to endure is a blessing instead of a curse, 
and is the greatest evidence of discipleship we 
have ever had, as, wherever the early Chris- 
tians went, bonds and imprisonment awaited 
them; and but for the better laws under which 
we live this would be our case to-day. This is 
the only reason I have voted for a Republican 
administration for years. The principles of 
this government are held by that party only, 
and though there is dishonesty and corruption 
enough in it, and its leaders far from being 
righteous men, yet they hold on to the Consti- 
tution and the principles of equality to all. If 
we lived in a country where Church and State 
were united, the result of this last undertaking 
would have been far different; and now I feel 
we can claim that 'all manner of evil has been 
said against us falsely;' that 'we have been 
made the filth and off scouring of the world,' 






198 KELXGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

and that we have been persecuted for Christ's 
sake to the full extent of the law. When we 
stand to be judged at God's bar by the side of 
those who think the days of persecution are 
past, as intended only for the dark ages, who 
think the better we are the more the world will 
love us, and that the 'Woe unto you when all 
men speak well of you' does not apply to this 
enlightened age, we can rest assured that our 
record, though marked with sorrow and afflic- 
tion, will stand the test of the truth, and God 
will say, 'Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord;' " 
and then we sang: 

1 'Who are these arrayed in white ?" etc. 

When we had finished the hymn he contin- 
ued: "The two principles coming in contact, 
which were the cause of this last effort, began 
in the Garden of Eden; and from that time un- 
til now, wherever there is a person in whose 
heart the Holy Ghost lives, there is a stir where 
he moves and he soon becomes an object of 
hatred to all who have the opposite spirit. The 
devil, whose nature is to destroy the right, will 
work through every unsaved soul to tempt, to 
intimidate and ensnare every such obedient 
soul. 

' 'Through the early ages of the Christian era 
and in Bible times he would stop at nothing 
short of imprisonment, torture and death; in 



OF GEORGE DIT^KLE. 199 

this age of reason and philosophy his effort is 
confined by law to the destruction of influence 
and the ruin of moral character by cruel slan- 
der. Look at Abel, Joseph, Daniel, and many 
others in the Old Testament, and all the true 
disciples in the New; then follow church his- 
tory down to the present time, and wherever 
there was living faith — in the old or young, 
the high or low, in places of authority and in- 
fluence, or in the lone recesses of the moun- 
tains or the isles of the sea — they were hunted 
from den to cave, being destitute, afflicted, tor- 
mented; and shall we, w T ho claim the same 
faith, expect, because the ages have rolled 
along to the nineteenth century, that Satan, 
human nature or God' s Word has changed ? Or 
that the two spirits that are antagonistic in na- 
ture will ever be at peace one with the other I 
No; the children of the bondwoman, though 
gilded over with more refinement, still have the 
same nature and will continue to persecute the 
children of the free, even down to the close of 
time. When I saw individuals and families 
who before this last raid had for years been en- 
emies become intimate friends in this persecu- 
tion, I thought of Christ when brought before 
Herod and reduced to the lowest state of hu- 
miliation, arrayed in a gorgeous robe, mocked,, 
spit upon and sent to Pilate, that the same day 
those two men were made friends together^ 



200 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

though before they had been enemies. I have 
also seen those who had been long halting be- 
tween two opinions, when the test came, ready 
to join the popular side, thus showing the truth- 
fulness of the Scripture, fc The world will love 
its own.' " 

The principal movers in these scandalous 
proceedings were now for a time very quiet, 
fearing the tables might be turned, as they 
legally could have been; but their fears were 
groundless, the weapons of our warfare not be- 
ing carnal; but obeying the truth, to " avenge 
not yourselves, but rather give place unto 
wrath, for vengeance is mine, I will repay, 
saith the Lord," we followed the Savior's ex- 
ample, and were like sheep dumb before the 
shearer; we opened not our mouths. 

Mrs. O. seemed penitent for a time, asked 
my forgiveness, confessed to the justice and 
lawyer before whom I was taken, and many 
others, that she alone was the guilty party; 
but after a time became worse than ever. Time 
passed on, and it became certain that no retal- 
iation was to be sought by Mr. D. So now, 
greatly mortified by the defeat, it was thought 
best to try once more. An older counselor- at- 
law said: "If Mr. D.'s case had been in my 
hands I would have pushed it through to a 
trial, and so succeeded in breaking up those 
meetings/' 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 201 

So after consulting this wise man, Mrs. O., 
led by her relative, instituted proceedings for 
a divorce, and after going to nearly all the 
trouble and expense of bringing the case to a 
decision, she repented, withdrew it and con- 
fessed she had no cause of action; and thrice 
beaten at their own game, they let us alone, 
having done all possible against us, by word 
and deed, by legal processes, by falsehoods and 
misrepresentations. 

Mrs. O. had fulfilled her threat made years 
Tbef ore, that she would ruin my character. Mrs. 
C. had also accomplished her's. Instead of 
producing the effect intended, it had been a 
means of spiritual advancement to me, and had 
shut me out from the world that I might be 
shut in with God; and now I felt that " neither 
death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things 
present or to come, heights, depths, nor any 
other creature could separate me from the love 
of God," and instead of shame I had blessing, 
instead of grief joy, and an undoubted prepa- 
ration for death and the judgment. 

For some time when I met these persons my 
ears were greeted with some vile song or 
epithet and my eyes with some low act or 
grimace, that last resort of a vanquished foe. 
In all this I can truthfully say I had no un- 
kind feeling, knowing they were but instru- 
ments in the hands of Satan to whom God had 



202 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

set bounds as to the sea, and that they went no 
farther than he allowed. 

Almost the entire community stood by Mrs* 
L. through this, and for some time afterward 
she was treated as a heroine and invited into 
families where once she would have been 
spurned. Mrs. C. was the recipient of many 
compliments and favors for her bravery, and 
the children were praised as intelligent and 
handsome. But in the midst of this there came 
an awakening, when Mrs. C. had another grand- 
child added to the family; and being now in 
straitened circumstances, they moved to a dis- 
tant city, and a few years later Mrs. C. was 
taken to a hospital and there died. Mrs. L., 
now with her fourth child, became an inmate 
of one of the most disreputable houses in the 
city. 

After passing through this trying ordeal we 
had a respite from these outward afflictions, 
and now the work of grace advanced in every 
heart. Mr. D. was led into truths great and 
wonderful, and those who heard and believed 
were soon rejoicing in the same. He said : 

" ' Think it not strange concerning the fiery 
trial which is to try you, as though some strange 
thing happened to you,' as this suffering brings 
you to a right principle, which is not known in 
nature, but comes from the truth, by which we 
are to be governed in all things, both of a spir- 






OF GEORGE DTHSTKLE. 203 

itual and temporal nature ; all our worldly 
affairs must yield to it, and if in any of our 
ways or dealing there is a lack, this principle 
will regulate and govern it. As our spirit 
passes through a crushing process by the trials 
and crosses encountered in life, it is but to take 
away the rough places, the uneasiness of spirit, 
that meekness and quietude may prevail in the 
heart ; and when there is no resistance to the 
movements of God in the soul, a state tran- 
scendentally glorious is the result and God be- 
comes the all and in all to us." 



204 KELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 



CHAPTER XII. 

Mrs. D. has been seldom mentioned in this 
work, but I am now ready to give her experi- 
ence. She had a very clear conversion several 
years before her marriage, but soon fell into 
the lifeless form of church members and moved 
with them for many years. The Wesleyan 
society was especially dear to her and she spared 
no labor or pains to aid in its prosperity. She 
had always perfect confidence in her husband's 
experience, yet it grieved her when he began to 
attack her idol, the church, and when he refused 
to attend or aid it in any way she was greatly 
distressed. He provided her with a way to go 
if she chose to do so, but she had leaned on him 
too long to wish to go alone. She saw the work 
of grace advancing in his own meeting, and be- 
came convinced he was a teacher sent from God; 
but she felt for a long time that he might have 
labored as well in the church. She was very 
prudent in her ways, and few, unless having 
spiritual discernment, could have seen she was 
not one with him ; they were very obliging to 
each other, and in all the time I knew them I 
never heard an unkind word pass between them. 



OF GEOKGE DTOKLE. 205 

She courteously entertained all who came to 
the meeting, and was a model woman in many 
ways, without grace. 

Mrs. D. and Mrs. C. had been friendly neigh- 
bors for years, and when first the scandalous 
reports began, Mrs. C. went privately to her 
and requesting secrecy told her the awful prac- 
tices she believed were going on under her own 
roof, adding : i ' They hide this from you, and 
deceive you, but Mr. D. is a fallen spirit and 
secretly teaches these things, and your girl is 
the ringleader." Mrs. D. replied : "Why did 
you not tell me this before my husband?" 
She answered : "I do not wish to ever speak to 
him again." 

Mrs. D., knowing this to be so maliciously 
false, now felt it time to take a stand with him, 
and committing herself to the doctrine he 
taught, the spirit he possessed, and the posi- 
tion he occupied, she began to look at her own 
state ;— back, back she looked for a time when 
she knew she was saved, and could find none 
for more than forty years, when, for a short 
time after her conversion, she had the witness 
of acceptance with Grod. She could hardly be- 
lieve her own sight, and took time to investi- 
gate the matter thoroughly, until she became 
convinced that if at any time since her mar- 
riage she had died she would have been a lost 
soul. 



806 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

She mourned and looked over the forty years 
of profession lost to herself and the world, hav- 
ing a form of godliness without the power, and 
now with old age creeping on and the sands of 
life almost run out; a Christian but in name, a 
false light misleading all over whom she had 
ever had an influence. The thought was almost 
too much to be borne ; her heart seemed hard 
as stone, and she feared the case was hopeless. 

Just at this time Mr. D. had a vision. He 
was fishing in a very clear stream of water in 
the bottom of which was flinty rock. Seeing a 
fine fish he caught it just as it was about to 
dive into a deep hole, and gave it to a person 
standing by, saying : ' ' Take it home to mother. ' ' 
He related this to Mrs. D., and said: " You 
need not despair ; your case has never since we 
were married been so hopeful as now. Your 
committal has brought you to see your true 
condition and you are undeceived, which is a 
great blessing. God gave me this vision to res- 
cue you ; your heart, like the flinty rock, can be 
broken by the Word, and as the fish was caught 
just as it was about to disappear, so may you 
turn to God and lay hold of the promises before 
it is too late ; and if faithful you will be taken 
home to the redeemed." 

"But," she said, with tears, u see my wasted 
life ; instead of gathering I have scattered, and 
now I have but little to offer to God." 



OF GEOBGE DUISTKLE. 207 

He replied: "We all had nothing but sin 
to give, and can never merit salvation, even if 
we kept the law from our youth up ; the door 
is opened at the eleventh hour and you are bid- 
den to come in and mast believe that ' he is the 
rewarder of those who diligently seek him.' " 

Taking courage from this, she felt it her duty 
to write to several of her friends, confessing her 
state and committal, and began to pray earn- 
estly. It was not long before she was restored 
to her first love, and shouted, "The dead is 
alive, the lost is found. ' " The Lord now taught 
her and she reached the next state after a time, 
was obedient to all the light belonging to it, and 
then saw, as others had, yet depravity within. 
She continued to believe and obey until she 
said : " I have gained that much disputed point. 
I feel I am dead to sin and alive to God, and 0, 
Tiow the eighth chapter of Romans feeds me ! " 
She faithfully followed her husband as he fol- 
lowed Christ, and at the time of his death they 
were a couple united in the bonds of Christian 
love and unity. 

As soon as she was restored the enemies of 
God, stirred up by that spirit who is never so 
enraged as when he loses a soul, classed her 
with her husband as a helpmeet to these things 
of which we were all accused, though for more 
than forty years all had spoken well of her. 
She was always ready to testify in behalf of the 



208 EELIGIOTJS EXPERIENCE 

Gospel that had saved her, and requested me 
to give this testimony of her to the world. 

In the churches it was taught there would be 
grades in heaven according to proficiency in 
grace and development of mind, as I had often 
heard it said to be proven by this Scripture : 
" One star diifereth from another star in glory, 
so also is the resurrection of the dead;' ' and now 
I thought, if Mr. and Mrs. D. should die, she 
knowing but the first principles of grace, and 
he far advanced, would she not envy him his 
greater enjoyment, and if so, would heaven be 
a place of perfect happiness ? I asked Mr. D. 
what were his views on the subject. 

He said : " God never created but one grade 
of intellect, and the difference seen is caused 
either by some physical deformity or greater 
development, and there is no real superiority 
in the sight of God except that .made by grace. 
No two souls are one, according to the Sav- 
iour's prayer, until they have realized all the 
atonement provided ; if one has reached the 
full extent of the provision and the other has 
not, and yet is in favor with God, there is not 
a perfect equality between them ; but should 
they both die at this stage, the one not yet 
made perfect is saved upon the principle of the 
infant, which brings about the oneness which 
exists in heaven. Now, take a man of the 
greatest education and refinement and an un- 



OF GEORGE DTOKLE. 209 

civilized barbarian, and let them both come 
under the influence of conviction, and yield to 
it; both will cry, 'God be merciful to me a 
sinner.' If their prayer is answered they will 
have the same joy and the same testimony of 
sins forgiven ; and as grace works in the heart 
and the Holy Ghost teaches, both come to the 
same points in experience. As the leveling 
process goes on the high are brought low, and 
the humble exalted, and all either have left 
that is of any value, comes from God and not 
from their former state. Then what is their 
enjoyment % Their Creator. How are their 
minds developed and enlarged \ By the en- 
lightening power of the Holy Ghost truth, the 
fountain of all wisdom, is brought to the mind, 
opened to the understanding, and transforms 
the soul, bringing all the being under divine 
influence ; so that Joseph the slave had more 
wisdom than the king ; David, through God's 
commandments, became wiser than his enemies ; 
in Daniel the captive was found the wisdom 
of the gods ; and Peter the unlearned fisher- 
man, and Paul brought up at the feet of Ga- 
maliel, having wisdom that their enemies could 
neither gainsay nor resist, are fed from the same 
source, and all have their enjoyment in the law 
of God, which is their meditation day and 
night. Their future state of happiness is but 
an extension and enlargement of what is begun 



210 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

in time. Grace does away with grades in time 
and eternity ; otherwise there could be no 
heaven, for where there are grades there is con- 
fusion and every evil work. Although my 
views are not learned from books, I am satis- 
fied your comparison of the stars differing in 
glory has no reference to heaven, but is a figure 
to represent the difference between the natural 
and spiritual bodies. We read that at death 
the body is sown in corruption, dishonor, and 
weakeness ; it is raised in incorruption, glory, 
and power, showing the great change to be 
made in the body by the resurrection. The 
difference of the flesh of men, beasts, fishes, and 
birds, of bodies celestial and terrestrial, of sun, 
moon and stars, all show the great and glori- 
ous contrast between the human body before 
and after the resurrection. This earthly body, 
though wonderful in its construction and mech- 
anism, is but a feeble comparison to the resur- 
rected body freed from the effects of sin, un- 
affected by pain or disease, like unto Christ's 
most glorious body, a fit receptable for the same 
redeemed spirit that in time had inhabited 
it, when soul and body, having the divine im- 
press, is prepared to dwell in the new heaven 
and earth created by God, and wherein dwelleth 
righteousness." 

One Sunday there was present a local preach- 
er, who had been a brother in the church, whose 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 211 

wife held such liberal views of woman's rights 
that they had separated years before. He was 
very free to tell how many sermons he had 
preached in a year and how many miles he had 
traveled to conduct Sunday schools and prayer 
meetings ; that he had made this his life work 
for years, and intended to continue it as long as 
strength would permit, and then, having done 
all in his power for the good of the world, he 
expected to be saved. 

Mr. D. then said: "In the creation of the 
world, and all that is therein, order governed 
every addition of matter to the first atom called 
into being; and the only disarrangement of this 
divine order is caused by sin. Throughout the 
animal kingdom a leader controls the move- 
ments of those of their kind that are together, 
and among mankind there is a head to every 
nation, tribe or family. In the nation 01 tribe 
if one rises and assumes the authority of the 
rightful leader he is punished as a criminal; in 
the family the husband and father is the head, 
as, 'The head of man is Christ, the head of the 
woman is the man, and the head of Christ is 
God.' With gentle firmness should he exer- 
cise the authority with which his position in- 
vests him. Every member of his household 
should be in subjection to him, the wife setting 
an example in this worthy of imitation. There 
is no undue humiliation in this, audit does not 



212 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

degrade her, nor is it an evidence of inferority; 
but it shows there should be but one head, and 
the sphere for*which she was fitted is the one 
she should fill without aspiring to that given to 
man by divine right. The popular cry for wo- 
man' s rights, to place her in the same position 
as man, is another product of the spurious 
Christianity which wrests all truth to meet this 
demand for more liberality. He who suffers 
his God-given position to be interfered with is 
not worthy the name of man. 

' ' The original design of the creation of the 
human family has been confused and destroyed 
by transgression; in the provision God made 
to restore that which was lost he has an ar- 
rangement through which he works for the sal- 
vation of the world, as is shown by this truth: 
'God, who at sundry times and in divers man- 
ners, spake in times past unto the fathers by 
the prophets, hath in these last days spoken 
unto us by his Son. 5 How did God speak by 
the prophets ? These teachers were men chos- 
en from among the people and anointed to be 
the spiritual leaders of Israel, and they received 
the word at the mouth of God. They were 
sought unto for direction in all important mat- 
ters, were revered by men and especially pro- 
tected by God, who said: 'Touch not mine 
anointed and do my prophets no harm.' How 
does God in these last days speak unto us by 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 213 

his Son ? On the day of Pentecost the dispen- 
sation of the Holy Ghost was ushered in, which 
will continue until Christ makes his second ap- 
pearance -without sin unto salvation. As in 
former times, so now God selects persons who 
have an experience and have become partakers 
of the fruits of what he is to declare, and or- 
dains them by a special qualification to preach 
the gospel. These are spiritual leaders, through 
whom God speaks to us. Christ, the Son, be- 
ing the Word, is given by the Holy Ghost to 
this leader, who, through the efficiency of this 
same Spirit, delivers it to the people, as Jesus 
said, 'He shall take of mine and shall show it 
unto you,' speaking as moved upon by the Holy 
Ghost. These are ministers of the manifold 
grace of God, a medium through which light 
shines to those who have eyes to see, ears to 
hear and a heart to understand. 

"Like the Savior, they speak only what the 
Father gives them, so that their works are 
wrought in God by the power of the Holy 
Ghost. All works for the salvation of souls 
outside of this arrangement originate in self, 
are carried out in self, and to self belongs the 
glory; but they will never bring souls into 
spiritual life. The Protestant churches of this 
age are following fast in the footsteps of the 
Roman Catholics, whose chief claim to salva- 
tion is based on good works; yet how plain is 



214 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

the Scripture: 'By the deeds of the law no flesh 
is justified;' and he who takes it upon him- 
self to work in the vineyard uncalled and un- 
qualified is like the prophets who speak out of 
their own hearts, and can at the best only teach 
the productions of their own mind, which will 
reach the minds of those who hear, but will not 
affect the heart. In fact, all this cry of ' doing 
good' outside of God's arrangement is but still 
another product of this false profession, which 
is doing all possible to prevent souls from seek- 
ing 'first the kingdom of God and his right- 
eousness.' 

" Such leaders as have followed the Lord ful- 
ly, with those who have faithfully obeyed God 
through their teachings in all ages, from the 
creation down to the end of time, compose the 
Church of the living God. Every member in 
his proper place in the body, exercising his gift, 
is necessary, and from the great Head all the 
joints and bands are knit together and nour- 
ished, for the completion of Zion, the city com- 
pact together, and upon those parts which are 
the least honorable is bestowed more abundant 
honor. In it God is known, and out of it, the 
perfection of beauty, he shines. King's daugh- 
ters all glorious within and holy men valiant 
for truth, redeemed from earth, having kept 
themselves from the mark of the Beast, send 
up their tears and prayers from it, and finally 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 215 

all will join in worshiping the Lamb, who is 
worthy to receive power and riches, wisdom 
and strength, honor and glory and blessing." 
The old preacher responded fervently to what 
was said of woman's sphere, but was silent and 
evidently ill at ease during the other remarks,, 
and left at the close of the hymn, 

*'Ye servants of the Lord, 
Each in his office wait," etc. 



216 BELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Early one morning a boy called and said to 
Mr. D.: u Mr. P. [a young man who was teach- 
ing school a few miles away] is sick and sent 
me to ask you to come and see him." Mr. D. 
was suffering from an attack of inflammation in 
the eyes, and the sun shone brightly on the 
snow so he thought he could not go, and so ex- 
pressed himself, at which the boy with tears 
said: "Do come, he will die." So accompanied 
Iby his wife he went. 

After the usual greeting Mr. P. said: "Last 
night I saw the Savior, and with him a man I 
did not recognize, and I felt like sending for 
you this morning." He was very weak and 
closed his eyes to rest for a few moments, and 
then, as if aided by some unseen power, he 
raised up saying: "There, I see him again and 
it is you with him, Mr. Dunkle." 

Lying down he said: ' 'I am glad you are here. 
I am not prepared to die." Mr. D. said: "Has 
no one talked with you about your soul and 
prayed for you?" He replied: "No; the min- 
ister and others have called on me, but have 
only told me to trust in the Lord; but I am 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 217 

dinner and feel the need of forgiveness." After 
directing him to the provisions and promises 
for the penitent Mr. D. said: "I will pray for 
you and you pray for yourself, confessing your 
sins, and plead forgiveness for Christ's sake." 
He then knelt and prayed a few short sen- 
tences, presenting the case to G-od, and closed. 
The young man followed in a short but fervent 
prayer, at the close of which the answer came 
and he said: u Thank the Lord! Thank the 
Lord!" and Mr. D. sang: 

"My God is reconciled, 
His pardoning voice I hear," etc. 

The young man responded very heartily witli 
a smile and eyes beaming with joy, and con- 
tinued in this frame of mind for several hours. 
Finally Mr. D. bid him good-bye and left, ex- 
horting him to keep his mind stayed on God. 
He closed his eyes and died in less than an 
hour, without another sign of consciousness. 
The preacher in charge was offended when he 
heard of this, as the mother was a member of 
his church and should, as he thought, have 
sent for him. 

Two men who were strangers came to the 
meeting one evening, and one was restored and 
came for some time alone ; but at the close of 
one Tuesday night meeting Mr. D. prayed earn- 
estly for the conversion of this man's wife whom 
he had never seen, closing his prayer thus: 



218 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

"Lord, I know thou hast inspired this prayer, 
and I feel the evidence that it is answered. " 
Some not having such perfect faith and trust 
trembled lest it should not come true; but the 
next Sabbath she came with her husband and 
said : " I have been a member of the Baptist 
church for years, and never heard anything of 
true religion until my husband came here; and 
his talk at home produced such conviction on 
me I could get no rest until I sought the Lord 
with my whole heart and found him last Tues- 
day night. I feel I now know the joys of sins 
forgiven." 

One day as Mr. D. was walking over his farm 
he thought of an older brother, living in Ohio ; 
he felt led to pray for his conviction and con- 
version, which he did ; when he came to the 
house he spoke of it, and said: " I have the 
evidence the prayer is answered." In a few 
weeks he received a letter telling of the death 
of that brother, and also that a short time be- 
fore he breathed his last he said to his wife : 
"I will tell you what I have not told any one 
before : on such a day [the same that Mr. D. 
had prayed for him] I was converted, and I 
wish it distinctly understood that it was not in 
consequence of any preaching I ever heard, or, 
as far as I know, in answer to any prayer for 
me, but is wholly the work of the Lord. I wisk 
you to write this to my brother George." 



OF GEOKGE DU^KLE. 219 

Miss J. was industrious and economical, and 
from almost childhood had divided her earn- 
ings with her parents, though her father was a 
well, able bodied man, and she at last bought a 
seven hundred dollar home for them, with the 
understanding that her father was to pay all 
the expenses of taxes, insurance, and repairs, 
which he positively refused to do as soon as his 
home was secured. 

She soon found that it was also the home of 
other members of the family, who were unwill- 
ing to relieve her in any way, but who could 
command the same wages for one day' s work 
that she received for six. These earnings were 
spent in dissipation, as their condition and the 
beer bottles in the cellar clearly showed ; there 
still continued a call for running expenses, and 
scarcely a month passed but that from one to 
five dollars was given in addition to that al- 
ready contributed. 

For ten years after buying the home she 
bore all this uncomplainingly, until the demand 
came from those who spent their own money 
at the saloon, when she felt she could no longer 
be justified before Gfod or man in pursuing this 
course ; even some of her own relatives said : 
"What you are doing gives to others the op- 
portunity for indolence and intemperance ; we 
advise you to take your means where you can 
have the benefit of it in sickness and old age." 



220 KELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

She had lived at Mr. D.'s for seven years and 
they knew of all that she had done, and he said: 
"I do not wish to influence you contrary to 
your own convictions of duty, but it certainly 
is not right for you to provide for those who 
might be self-supporting if they would." She 
now decided to contribute no more in that di- 
rection, and when it became known that she 
intended to sell the place, other members of 
the family combined and bought it of her. 
Now there was nothing tongue could say or 
heart feel but what was hurled at her, and she 
knew the Scripture, "They will separate you 
from their company, and say all manner of evil 
against you," the great cry against a religion 
which rejected honor to parents, especially in 
their declining years. 

Such is the nature of the unregenerated human 
heart, which is evil and only evil continually. 
"John came neither eating nor drinking and 
they say, 'He hath a devil. 5 When the Son 
of God came eating and drinking, they say, 
'Behold a gluttonous man, a wine bibber, a 
friend of publicans and sinners. 5 " So what- 
ever course is taken by one who has another 
spirit and follows the Lord fully, his ways are 
condemned and opposed by the world ; and it 
can never be otherwise as long as there exists 
on earth two natures and spirits as diverse one 
from th e other as war and peace. 



OF GEOBGE DUNKLE. 221 

Mr. V. was one of the many who were bene- 
fited by this doctrine and one of the few who 
withstood the storm of persecution without 
and affliction within, and adhered to the truth 
until he became established in it. 

Because of the confidence Mr. D. had in him, 
I will give space for his experience in full, as 
related by himself: "I was born in Otsego 
county in the year 1837, and was converted 
during the winter of 1849. For three years 
previous to this change, at the request of my 
mother, I often read the Scriptures. The rec- 
ord there given of the lost so weighed upon my 
mind that I often wandered in the fields and 
woods alone, and thought, ' how short my life 
would be at the longest and how unprepared I 
was for the future.' 

" At one time I went alone to a very high hill 
and sat on a rock at its summit, and wept a 
long time, wishing there had been no sin on 
the earth, for then I might be happy ; but now 
I was wicked and feared I would be lost. As 
I stood for the first time by an open grave and 
saw the coffin lowered, I felt as though it was 
I they were covering with earth ; the scene so 
impressed my young heart that I could scarcely 
think of anything but death, which I so wished 
to avoid but knew I could not. I resolved to 
become a Christian, so as to be prepared for 
the event. I read the New Testament through 



222 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

to find what to do, and as it spoke of secret 
prayer, I went stealthily at stated times to 
some secret place to do this duty. I knew no 
prayer but one my mother had taught me, and 
not feeling satisfied Gf-od would hear that, I 
learned the Lord' s Prayer, and offered that as 
the language of my childish heart to him. 
Though my conscience approved this course, 
yet it did not satisfy me that I was a Christian, 
so I continued to read to see what more was 
required. I had guarded all I had felt and 
done so carefully that none knew of it. Now 
I read, 'He that is ashamed of me before men, 
of him will I be ashamed before my Father and 
the holy angels. 5 

" As I thought of this day after day I felt that 
I ought to tell publicly my intentions; but how 
to do so I did not know. I seldom went to a 
religious meeting, but after a time I remem- 
bered I had heard in some way that protracted 
meetings were held for persons to get religion, 
and that in them others beside the preacher 
spoke a few words. If I only knew where one 
was in progress there would be my chance to 
obey this truth. I prayed God to send some 
one to the town to conduct such a meeting. 
To my great surprise, not long after I heard 
there was to be one in a neighboring school- 
house. I was happy at the thought of an op- 
portunity to do my duty, and spent the after- 



OF GEOKGE DUNKLE. 223 

noon alone in prayer and thinking what to say. 
It was the first night of the meeting, and I went 
with a light heart, resolved to say that I had 
repented of my sins and intended to lead a 
Christian life ; but as the time came for testi- 
mony the cross began to appear, and it grew 
heavier until I trembled so that it was with 
difficulty I could conceal my emotion. At last 
the meeting closed, and my duty that I had 
been so happy at the thought of doing was 
undone. I went home with a sad heart, but 
determined not to give it up. I added to my 
decision, and the next night I bore the cross 
though it seemed like a ton's weight, and, 
much to the astonishment of all, confessed 
Christ before men as best I knew how. 

c 'Three preachers present responded, ' Amen, 
God bless the boy ! ' which somewhat discon- 
certed me, but I sat down and lo ! I seemed to 
be another person ; my burden was gone and 
for the first time I felt I was a Christian and 
prepared to die. Day after day I sang hymns 
and was happy in the Lord, but was ignorant 
of what to do to lead a Christian life. I had 
heard of powerful conversions, where persons 
were prostrated under the power of God and 
shouted aloud, and so, child that I was, I did 
not even know that I was converted ; but as 
long as God owned me as his- child I was satis- 
fied, and watched those in whom I had the great- 



224 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

est confidence for an example to follow. They 
testified in every meeting, and feeling I must 
do the same, was always at a loss for something 
to say. I had not a thought it was duty to tell 
what I felt, or speak of any hymn or Scrip- 
ture that had been on my mind, so every time 
before the meeting I spent a good share of the 
day studying up what to say and committing 
it to memory, that I might not be confounded. 
I continued to speak in every meeting for some 
time, until one night I refused to do so, when 
the minister at the close of the meeting said : 
'I will leave it until the scene of the judgment 
where we will all meet.' This struck me and 
I had horrible feelings for days, fearing at that 
great day I would be condemned for that neg- 
lect, After a long time I decided I did not do 
wrong, when I was relieved ; and it being so 
hard to find what to say, I began to question 
the necessity of speaking at all, and before 
many months I ceased to take any part in meet- 
ing. 

" By this time my enjoyment was gone and I 
thought my attempt to be a Christian was vain 
and I was much mortified over my failure ; my 
good desires were still the same but I knew not 
what more to do. 

"My name had been taken in the church on 
six months' probation, and when the time came 
to join in full membership I answered the sol- 



OF GEORGE DOTKLE. 225 

emn questions as the others did, but felt I, was 
saying what was false, and for three years was 
ashamed of being a church member. While 1 
had any religious enjoyment there was nothing 
I so much disliked as the society I found in the 
district school. We were often visited by rel- 
atives on Sunday who were also church mem- 
bers. I would go away alone and read the 
Bible, as that afforded the greatest entertain- 
ment. I now went a short term to the New 
York Conference Seminary, at Charlotte ville, 
where most of the ten professors were preachers, 
and I thought I could surely there find how to 
become saved. I was very sad, listened and 
received all I heard on the subject, and went 
home to find that I felt above my parents, who 
had done so much for me, and looked down with 
disdain on their old fashioned ways. My father 
then moved to Ontario county, and though I did 
not wish a letter from the church, one was sent 
me. I hid it under a rafter in the garret for a 
time, then burned it. I went a few weeks to Lima 
to school, where my concern for my soul was 
so intense as to unfit me for proficiency in 
study, and at last I was sent for to come home 
on business, and as I had made a failure of ed- 
ucation and religion too, I determined to settle 
down to plain farming, still looking in every 
direction for a way to salvation. As I grew 
older I read Beecher' s sermons, and from them 



226 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

I felt to regard my youthful experience as 
childishness, and now looked to the great and 
wise for what I had so longed for, and the more 
I looked the less feeling I had. 

44 At the age of twenty-two I attended a re- 
vival in the Methodist Episcopal church in 
Victor village. I had endeavored to keep the 
commandments from my youth up, and now I 
resolved to make another effort to become a 
Christian. I went forward for prayers, repented 
as best I knew how, but felt no change. I ex- 
pressed my good desires and my name was put 
upon the church record. I walked along with 
its members, conscious I had no true religion, 
but knew of nothing better to do, and so con- 
tinued my profession. I had occasionally heard 
it remarked that the church was on a par with 
the world, and on reading the Discipline I felt 
in my own case at least it was true. I was told 
that my name was to be read in the public con- 
gregation. I thought I was to be thus rebuked 
for want of conformity to church rules. I felt 
it would be just, and went prepared to receive 
it, hoping it might be a means of light to me, 
for which I would have indeed been thankful. 

" Judge of my surprise when my name was 
read out as a newly appointed steward, and the 
preacher exhorted me to be 'a faithful steward 
of the manifold grace of God.' This eased my 
conscience, and having still great confidence in 



OF GEORGE DTJNKLE. 227 

the church was sure my unhappy state was be- 
cause of my own neglect of duty. So I resolved 
to attend the prayer meetings. I had to ride 
four miles alone, and thought strange as I 
passed through the village to see so many 
church members about the stores, and stranger 
still when I found but three or four at the meet- 
ing ; and one of these expressed great surprise 
at my coming so far Just to prayer meeting. I 
went away with no more than I brought, and 
altogether I began to think it mattered but lit- 
tle what I did or where I went, as the same re- 
sult followed. 

" After several years I married the daughter 
of a man especially marked by all classes as an 
exemplary Christian and in whom I had the 
greatest confidence. He exhorted me to erect 
a family altar, which I did, but it was so dis- 
tasteful to me that I often neglected it, which 
made him feel so badly that I would again re- 
sume it, until I told him: ' It is so hard to pray 
without the spirit,' hardly knowing what it 
meant. I was determined on financial pros- 
perity, but business affairs harassed me, and 
though I strained every nerve everything 
worked against me and disappointed my ex- 
pectations, which, with my unsatisfactory spir- 
itual state, made life almost a burden : but I 
made the best of it for twenty years, and then 
death entered. Mother and sistei died, a broth- 



228 EELIGIOIJS EXPERIENCE 

er was instantly killed, and, worse than all* 
God took my eldest child, who was almost an 
idol, a girl of twelve years. I was wholly un- 
prepared for such an event; my sorrow was 
overwhelming and I felt that an awful calamity 
had befallen me. 

"The church offered resolutions of sympa- 
thy, but nothing could assuage my grief. Death 
was no uncommon thing, but to feel so unrec- 
onciled awakened me to a sense of my own lost 
condition. I now went to the church fully re- 
solved to find all there was in it to save the soul. 
I obeyed conscientiously all that came from the 
leader, but with the usual result, though I had 
confidence in him as being above the average of 
Christians. His year soon closed and the sal- 
ary of his successor was reduced one-half, as he 
was less talented, which so grieved him that he 
said : ' It is impossible for me to preach an able 
sermon because of the course you have taken 
which has destroyed my influence. 5 

" With all my effort I remained an unsaved 
soul. I now began to look at the church un- 
prejudiced, unless in its favor, but fairly. All 
subscribed to the same rules, but not one even 
claimed to live up to them ; their entertain- 
ments were not above those of the world, and 
in the pews were worshipers who were known 
to be untruthful, licentious and prof ane, and no 
offender, unless he became unpopular, was ever 



OF GEORGE DTTJSTKLE. 229 

brought to justice. Some of the ministers were 
known to be no better, and yet all were exhort- 
ed to unity and fellowship. Notwithstanding 
all this was undeniable, yet I knew of nothing 
better,, and, groaning beneath my burden, was 
on the verge of despair. 

" At this extremity a stranger [whom I after- 
ward learned to be Mr. A., mentioned in this 
book] called on business, which being satisfac- 
torily disposed of, he said : 4 You are a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, are you 
no t ? ' I nodded assen t and he continued : ' That 
church has rejected John Wesley, the Bible 
and the Holy Ghost; has become the habitation 
of devils, the cage of every unclean and hurt- 
ful bird, and you are an unsaved man.' I be- 
lieved this was all true, but was much aston- 
ished at the abrupt declaration. I asked him 
many questions; we talked a long time, and for 
two weeks I often sought his company, trying 
to find the truth that would bring peace to my 
troubled soul. He seemed to have light I had 
never heard from any man, but I could get 
nothing to satisfy my own soul. I finally asked 
him if he knew of any one who taught such sen- 
timents as he advocated. He said he did. I 
asked: 'Will you take me to him?' He seemed 
pleased to do so, and the next Sunday we came 
to Mr. Dunkle's. Lo, and behold! I saw and 
heard what I never had before. Mr. D. de- 



230 KELIGIOUS EXPEKIEltfCE 

scribed a true preacher and the satisfaction of a 
saved soul, and there were a few who witnessed 
to the power of the Gospel to save from sin. I 
had never heard such testimonies, and they 
brought to my mind the feeling of my heart 
when but twelve years of age, which I had long 
since rejected as but natural childish joy. He 
spoke with a power and an influence, together 
with such a clear enunciation of truth, that my 
heart was won, and I went home with new as- 
pirations after God, whom I believed had led 
me to this man. 

"At first I examined very carefully every 
word I heard, lest this also should prove decep- 
tive ; but after a time I saw the doctrine was 
strictly Scriptural and could not be condemned 
by the Bible, and as far as I was able to judge 
nothing was received among this people as 
Christian but what came up to its requirements. 
I had asked different preachers in my own 
church what a person was to do who, having 
been converted, had lost it ; must they be con- 
verted over, or what could they do to become 
saved, and never received a ray of light from 
one of them. I now asked Mr. D. the same, 
and he said : Q If you have been converted and 
lost it you are in this truth, "I have somewhat 
against thee, because thou hast left thy first 
love ; remember from whence thou art fallen, 
and repent, and do thy first work." ' I saw 



OF GEORGE DUISTKLE. 231 

some light in it, but said : ; I have never claimed 
to be converted; can you tell me whether I 
have been or not V He replied : £ If you will 
tell me what you have realized, I can tell you 
whether it is a Scriptural experience or not.' I 
told him minutely of the effort I made in my 
boyhood and the satisfaction resulting from it; 
but before I had finished I did not need an ad- 
ditional testimony to convince me of its validity, 
but he said: 'You give conclusive evidence of a 
change, and if you will go home and confess this 
to your family God will restore you. It is not to 
be wondered at that you lost it when none of 
your teachers taught you the necessity of a 
faithful confession of it ; and there is not light 
enough in the body you have been in since to 
show you what # to do.' I knew this was true, 
and I went home and told my family as direct- 
ed, and soon that same joy and satisfaction I 
had felt and so longed for returned to me and 
filled the aching void I had carried so many 
weary years. How could I help having confi- 
dence in and loving this man of God ? 

" Like other converts, I desired the same joy 
for my friends, and tried hard to get them to 
go with me to hear him whose light had been 
the means of my finding what I had lost ; but 
not one except my own family would go. My 
father-in-law said he would not leave his own 
meeting to hear a dissenter, and others always 



232 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

had some excuse ; and because my religion did 
not come through the duly established church, 
they seemed afraid of me and inclined to pass 
by on the other side. 

" 1 advocated my new sentiments freely, but 
did not go to the church, and at the annual 
pew renting I was charged as having taken a 
thirty-five dollar seat for the year, and as my 
wife and children went occasionally I paid the 
charge and asked to have my name dropped, 
and said : ' Do not save me a pew again, as I 
have found a man who is a true teacher of sal- 
vation, and having spent the greater part of my 
life in supporting a church which only deceived 
me, and from which I was unable to get one ray 
of light, and whose leaders wanted the names 
of my children to swell their numbers when 
only eight years of age and unconverted, I feel 
I can support it no longer by my means or in- 
fluence.' Yet when a new minister came on 
the charge he wrote to me, though I lived but 
three miles away, addressing me as one of his 
flock, and exhorting me to come to church, so 
I thought best to make a public withdrawal. 
I went to the revival meeting then in progress 
for that purpose, and said : ' I had supposed 
my name had been dropped from this church 
record, and it does not seem to be so under- 
stood. I now publicly withdraw from this so- 
ciety, feeling that the salvation of my soul 
depends upon my taking this step.' 



OF GEORGE DUJ^KLE. 233 

" After the meeting closed the preacher came 
to me and said : i You are a man I love, and I 
am coming to see you.' I gave a cordial assent 
to this, and asked him to come, not for a formal 
call, but to stay for a conversation on the Bible. 
He replied : ' We will take up Christ's sermon 
on the mount.' He came and talked on the 
ordinary topics of the day for a time, avoiding 
any allusion to the Bible, and at last said : ' I 
will pray with you, and then must go. ' After 
a short prayer he started to go, saying : ' Come 
and hear me preach, ' to which I replied : c You 
came here as I supposed to talk with me on 
Christ's sermon on the mount, and if you 
thought I was in an error, would, as a teacher, 
try to show it to me ; that sermon teaches one 
strait gate and narrow way, which few find, 
and also to beware of false teachers. You ask 
me to come and hear your instruction and I am 
compelled to decide whether you are a true or 
false prophet ; you teach a broad way which 
admits of many things condemned by this ser- 
mon ; and so, to be true to God, I must call you 
a false teacher.' He replied: ' You are in a 
fearful condition,' and went hurriedly away 
and never called on me again, though at the 
end of the year two of the most influential 
members of his church were sent to me to col- 
lect the annual pew rent, showing the main 
interest at stake. 



234 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

"If I needed anything more to commit me 
against the Methodist Episcopal church I had 
it now, for why, if he had any light, did he 
not tell me the nature of my 'fearful condi- 
tion, 5 and show me what truths I was violating, 
and give me truths to direct my feet into the 
better way ; but instead, like a physician of no 
value, he tells the patient he is dangerously 
sick and leaves him ; but the poor man no doubt 
gave me the best he had, and I felt to rejoice 
that I had found one who, when sin-sick souls 
came for help, directed them to the truths ap- 
plicable to their condition, which, if obeyed, 
would restore them to spiritual health. 

u As I continued going to Mr. D.'s, light and 
joy continued to be given me, and I began to 
advance in knowledge of truth, which showed 
me my duty to myself, my family, and the 
world ; which as I discharged brought persecu- 
tion and reproach. My father-in-law became 
my greatest opposer, and by unusual presents 
and attentions to my children sought to influ- 
ence them against my course. Once while vis- 
iting me, he said : ' I have heard scandalous re- 
ports of those with whom you worship.' 'What 
are they?' I asked. 'They are too bad tore- 
late, but I believe they are true," he said. I 
replied : ' What you believe of them you can 
believe of me, as I endorse them. I have urged 
you to go and see and hear for yourself, but 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 235 

you have refused, and now without knowing 
anything of the origin or truthfulness of the 
reports, which you say are too bad to tell, you 
come to me and say you believe them ; if you 
said the same to some men they would curse 
you for the insult, and perhaps enforce it by a 
blow ; but my weapons not being carnal, I only 
say, unless you take back what you have said 
I shall refuse to take my family to visit you 
again.' 

u The report then went abroad that I had 
embraced a doctrine that would not allow me 
to let my children visit their aged grandparents, 
and that I so controlled my wife that she was 
compelled to embrace the same faith ; but they 
did not tell how many times she had been there 
and suffered their abuse because she would not 
join them in denouncing me, nor that she had 
told them that the origin of these scandals was 
from a disreputable woman having two illegit- 
imate children, whom those who worshiped 
at Mr. D.'s had rejected. 

" She at length did embrace this faith, and 
though she had been an acceptable member of 
the church for twenty years, she found she had 
never realized a change and was at last con- 
verted through the same doctrine that had 
saved me. 

" Everywhere she was known went the charge 
that she had neglected her feeble parents, 



236 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

though she continued to visit and aid them 
until they heaped the grossest insults upon us 
both for our faith, and had tried to prejudice 
all classes against me, even to my hired help, 
when for our children's sake, at least, we felt 
that to let them alone was the only Scriptural 
course to be pursued. I had always felt reluct- 
ant to send my children into the immoral in- 
fluence of district schools, but up to the time I 
embraced this doctrine had but little other 
opportunity to provide them an education suf- 
ficient for common business ; now I felt some 
other course must be taken, and looked to God 
for direction. 

"My wife and I had too many cares to at- 
tend to it, and I was sorely tried, not seeing 
any way opened to discharge this duty. I had 
two little boys, of seven and ten years of age, 
who had never been to school, and I knew it 
was not right to bring them up in total ignor- 
ance of ways of business, of the world at large, 
and the government under which we worship. 
I then heard that one of the attendants at Mr. 
D.'s had been a teacher years ago, and I gladly 
engaged her to teach my children at home, 
feeling it was in answer to my prayer. She 
taught them the Bible in connection with or- 
dinary school studies. On one occasion when 
their grandparents were visiting us, these two 
boys each repeated a chapter to them, one of 



OF GEORGE DUJSTKLE. 237 

the wise and foolish virgins, and the other of 
the rich man and Lazarus, which, was heard 
without a word of comment or commendation ; 
and this from a man whom all men said was a 
true Christian if there were any. Had the rec- 
itation been of something ludicrous or funny 
it would have been applauded. I lived to see 
those tw r o boys in a few years converted and 
walking in the narrow way marked out by the 
Bible, happy and contented without those en- 
tertainments usually thought a necessity for 
young people, and I mourned that I had not 
found the true way earlier in life, that my older 
children also might, when their hearts were 
tender, have been impressed with Bible truths, 
so that we might be an unbroken family in 
earth and heaven. 

"It were better to be childless than to bring 
up children to believe that the Bible does not 
mean as it reads; that the pleasures and profits 
of this world are the chief aim in life, and so 
evade the awful realities of the future until it 
is too late. Oh ! if parents could but feel the 
awful responsibility of souls committed to their 
care, whom God commanded to be taught his 
law when they go out and when they come in, 
when they sit down and when they rise up, 
making that the most prominent object before 
them in early years, then we might hope for a 
time when souls who love God and walk in his 
way might be many. 



238 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

" The third state of grace did not stagger me 
as it had many others, as I saw clearly the con- 
sistency of the previous changes to prepare the 
way for the great deliverance from the evil na- 
ture, and perhaps I was not so wedded to the 
teachings of the age ; and I was led along from 
truth to truth, not without trials severe, and 
tests of faith and obedience such as is known 
only to those who walk in light. My advance- 
ment in grace was not by one continuous 
growth, but by gaining successive points, sep- 
arate and distinct from each other, revealed to 
the mind by the light of truth, preceded by 
trials and crosses, which through faith produce 
In the soul a death to whatever that truth con- 
demned, and brought about changes inward or 
outward, in body, soul, or spirit, until all was 
lost in the will of God. Want of space forbids 
details of all these points ; but suffice it to say, 
that there is nothing of the world, the flesh, or 
the devil but that is met, removed, or regulated 
by the Word ; and he who comes in at the door 
and continues in the narrow way cannot avoid 
the states of grace that are so clearly seen by 
those 'who walked even as he walked,' and 
when all is summed up, it is salvation to the 
uttermost by faith and obedience" 



OF GEORGE DIUNTKLE. 239 



CHAPTER XIV. 

At one grove meeting Mr. D. attended was a 
learned man who, after hearing Mm speak, arose 
and said: "If I had heard that testimony one 
year ago I now would be a saved man. I have 
been wandering up and down the earth to find 
some one who could tell me the way of salva- 
tion, and have heard the truth for the first 
time." This was a hard blow to the several 
preachers present, who covered their chagrin 
by singing "The ninety and nine." 

After the meeting closed this man asked the 
privilege of going with Mr. D. to the house at 
which he was staying ; where after engaging in 
earnest conversation for a time Mr. D. made 
some remark about the future state of those 
who had known much of grace and then fell in- 
to sin and so were lost. To this the man, who 
proved to be a rank Calvinist, strongly dissent- 
ed, saying: "No person who has so loved God 
and been loved by him will ever be lost." Mr. 
D. quoted, "When a righteous man doth turn 
from his righteousness and commit iniquity, 
he shall die," and many other Scriptures prov- 
ing his point. This seemed to anger the man, 



240 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

and lie said : " I care not how many Scriptures 
there are to confirm your views, I will never 
believe that one who has been begotten of God 
and redeemed by grace, as you have declared 
it, can possibly be lost." Mr. D. replied: 
a Then you and I will have no further conver- 
sation, for when a man rejects God's Word it 
is impossible to benefit him ; your unbelief will 
prove your ruin." 

A lady present, who was also tinctured with 
Calvinistic principles, had been listening atten- 
tively and urged the continuation of the talk. 
Mr. D. firmly but kindly said: "My only ar- 
guments are truths, and it would illy become 
me to coerce any man into their belief." 

A number of years after I met this woman, 
and in our talk she said : "God knows wheth- 
er you will be saved or lost." I replied: "I 
do not agree with you," intending to explain 
my Scriptural reasons for such a belief. She 
was so wrought up over my reply that she 
would not allow me to say a word in its ex- 
planation or defense, and went about the house 
in a frenzy, saying over and over, ' ' What ! my 
God not know all things ! Oh, what an insult 
to my God ! What an assertion against his at- 
tributes ! How derogatory to his holy charac- 
ter ! May God pity you ! May God have mer- 
cy on you !" and such like, until she was ex' 
hausted with the effort. 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 241 

Such is the power of tradition and such the 
hellish influence of that doctrine which has 
been a stigma to the Christian faith and the 
ruin of a multitude of souls. As long as the 
Methodists fought this doctrine, without giv- 
ing any quarter, the blessing of God followed 
their efforts. 

He here met a lady of very independent 
views, who held the truth generally as he did, 
and yet there was no fellowship. After sev- 
eral weeks he was impressed to go and see her, 
which he did, and said : u God has made it my 
duty to come and see you ; he warned me not 
to have any argument with you, but to hold up 
to you the first three points of Christian expe- 
rience, which begins at conversion, goes on to 
a pure heart, and then a death to sin, which 
delivers the soul from the nature assumed by 
the fall." He related his own experience of 
these states, and explained at length the Scrip- 
tural necessity of them, etc. She became very 
much troubled and said : " I believe all the 
truth you have spoken, but not the points ; 
they greatly trouble me. What is their use, 
anyway ?" He replied : " A pointless experi- 
ence is but in the letter and can never change 
the nature; and without them the soul will 
strive to grow up to a perfect Christian by cul- 
tivating the graces of the Spirit, which is as 
impossible as it is to grow out noxious weeds 



242 EELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

by cultivation. Without them where are your 
landmarks or foundation, and where can you 
point to a place or time when the truth was 
fulfilled in the heart or in the life % 

"A pointless discourse gives a general im- 
pression, but benefits no one. The world is 
filled with such teaching and is drifting farther 
and farther from safety, with no positive marks 
to tell where they started from, what places 
they have stopped at or where they will land. 
You are in this general influence ; you admit 
truths in the general and are unsaved by them; 
you are drifting in this undefined way and you 
are as likely to drift into Mormonism as any 
other ism, but you will never become saved un- 
less by these points. I leave you perhaps nev- 
er to see you again. I warn you that unless 
you reach these points by such changes as the 
belief of the truth will produce, you are a 
marked soul for awful delusions." 

She was deeply moved, but in less than a 
year she became a member of the Oneida Com- 
munity. 

At another meeting was a sister who was con- 
verted young in life, became an influential 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and in after years at the Oak's Corners camp- 
meeting realized a pure heart, or sanctification, 
as it was called. She retained the evidence for 
some time, and then became greatly troubled 



OF GEOKGE DUKKLE. 243 

at the evils she still saw in her heart, and went 
to several preachers who were on the charge at 
different times and stated her trouble. " I feel 
I am in favor with God," she said, "for often 
the windows of heaven open and he pours out 
a blessing undeniable. I love his Word, but 
read there that 'out of the heart cometh that 
which defileth.' I find many wicked feelings 
come up from my heart which could not come 
from holiness, though I profess it. I cannot 
be shaken on what I have realized, and the last 
change was far greater than conversion, which 
was clear. I truly supposed I would never feel 
these things again, but I know they cannot 
dwell in heaven. I would believe I was fallen 
did I not have such marked tokens of his love. 
Can you tell me the cause of this, or what I can 
do?" 

Her only instruction was that u she already 
enjoyed all there was in grace and she must 
overcome this evil nature." Several years 
passed and she heard of Mr. D. through an ac- 
quaintance to whom she related her trouble ; 
and hearing he was to be present she went to 
this meeting, where he clearly defined the third 
state and those preceding it, appealing to the 
honesty of those who had realized the second 
change as proof of the truthfulness of the na- 
ture yet remaining after obtaining a pure heart. 



244 KELIGIOUS EXPEKIENCE 

Her heart bounded with joy as she saw the 
cause of all these evil feelings and committed 
herself to the doctrine he taught, though she 
knew it .came in collision with the theology of 
the age. She finally came to the conclusion to 
take a final leave of the church and its doctrines, 
believing her own state should teach her some- 
thing of her needs, and joined the new faith. 
She came here through difficulties at which a 
less determined soul would have faltered, and 
after being almost driven from home, persecut- 
ed and afflicted on every hand, she at last real- 
ized the desire of her heart and added her testi- 
mony to those who by a third change knew the 
power of this gospel to deliver the soul from 
the depraved nature. 



OF GEORGE DUNXLE. 245 



CHAPTER XV. 

I desire to honor my heavenly Father by one 
more testimony to the world of my present con- 
dition and prospects. For several years my 
state has been one of great enjoyment ; after 
passing throngh all the outward afflictions and 
disgrace possible under existing laws, and in- 
ward suffering great as could be borne by hu- 
man frame, I came into a great plane of love 
and joy ; not ecstatic, but deep and abiding. 
I feel such submission to the mind and will of 
God that whatever he wills for me I receive 
with thankfulness. Having been begotten by 
truth, that is my life and dependence ; and as 
far as I have any knowledge, my all, for time 
and eternity, is given to God to be used^ 
changed, or disposed of as he will, without any 
evasion or reservation. I have kept the cove- 
nant I made to obey him, and he has fulfilled 
his will in me. I love and trust him so well 
that I have no anxiety as to what will happen 
to me. My prospects of the future are so bright 
that death would at any time be welcomed as 
the gate to endless joys. If this be boasting, 
it is only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 



246 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

as nothing but sin had I to give, and am but a 
sinner saved by grace. 

I have learned that an unselfish soul shuns 
not to declare all the work of grace, yet is as 
pleased to say small as great things ; is as hap- 
py to serve God in obscurity as before the great 
and wise ; cannot be elated or depressed by 
God's dealings, and receives all conditions in 
life equally well. 

In view of these great changes, I can but look 
with pity on those who have labored so hard 
for my ruin, feeling that with Joseph I can say : 
"Ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for 
good," leaving them in the hands of him who 
will reward every one according to their works. 

I now come to the closing scene of this his- 
tory. For more than two years previous to his 
death Mr. D. was admonished of its approach 
and often said : U I feel like a stranger here, 
not having any interest in anything on earth, 
and the time is drawing near when you will 
have to get along without me." 

A year before his death he was under the 
doctor's care for several weeks, and thought 
perhaps his time had come to die, and rejoiced 
greatly at the prospect ; but we all felt confi- 
dent that his work was not yet done, and so it 
proved. He felt it was an admonition to set 
his house in order, and so regulated his tempo- 
ral affairs. 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 247 

He said: "This farm I have never consid- 
ered mine. I received it providentially and 
haye always felt that it belonged to the Lord ; 
and to leave it to those who might be called 
legal heirs, yet are the enemies of God, would 
not be a fit ending of a life devoted to God. 
There are those who are without a home [men- 
tioning especially three], who have forsaken all 
for this cause ; they have obeyed that form of 
doctrine delivered unto them and are souls be- 
gotten through the Gospel, and Paul said of 
such : ' We are willing to impart unto them 
not the Gospel only, but our own souls also, 
because ye are dear unto us.' 

"It is my wish that these be provided for 
and all worthy souls be given a cordial wel- 
come here, whether in sickness or health. Let 
the meetings be continued as long as there 
are any to meet for worship, and whoever has 
the deed of the farm holds it with the under- 
standing that this trust be faithfully complied 
with. If at any time the' owner should find it 
impossible to execute this trust, I request that 
he transfer it to one, either male or female, by 
whom this can be carried out." 

During the year he had unusual manifesta- 
tions of grace, and seemed more and more de- 
tached from any interest here, and left the care 
of souls to those whom he was so soon to leave 
behind, while his mind seemed to dwell above. 



248 EELIGIOIJS EXPERIENCE 

A few weeks before his strength began to fail 
he realized the crowning grace of his experi- 
ence in the chapter of Colossians beginning 
with these words: "If ye then be risen with 
Christ, set your affections on things above," 
etc. He saw a great light, and in describing it 
said : ' ' You will mark that it reads ' ' affection, ' ' 
and the meaning is that the affections have be- 
come affection, or that the many objects of love 
are centered into one. By passing through the 
regeneration first one and then another is lopped 
off by the crucifying process, until the spirit 
risen with Christ into newness of life, with but 
one affection left, is exhorted to 'set it on 
things above where Christ sitteth on the right 
hand of God.' Save in knowledge, this is a 
state of which you will never find the end, 
as its centre and circumference is the infinite 
One, who has so kindly opened the way from 
darkness to light, from sin to holiness. We 
started with nothing but a purpose to be saved, 
ignorant of any of God' s w r ays or our own con- 
dition ; we have been led on until his perfect 
will is done in us ; and now I have nothing left 
on earth to which I cling. You who have been 
my care for so many years have fulfilled my 
joy, having become like minded to prove all 
the grace of God." 

A short time after this he said to Mrs. D. : 
c ' I feel that I shall not be with you long. ' ' He 



OF GEORGE DUKKLE. 249 

Tbegan to grow feeble and took to his bed. " I 
know not why I am in bed," he said to me. 
"I have not an ache or pain, do not feel bad 
anywhere, but am inclined to lie down, and as 
I am perfectly comfortable I stay here." A 
physician was called, but the medicines did not 
strengthen him. On one occasion he talked to 
the doctor of his faith and what a change it 
had wrought in him, and directed him to the 
Word as the only source of light, and after a 
few days said to him: u Doctor, if you could 
get a revelation from heaven you would know 
what ailed me," at which the doctor smiled 
and said : fc 4 You know we do not get our knowl- 
edge in that way.*" 

He continued in much the same condition 
for four weeks ; the physician said there were 
no signs of disease about him and nothing vis- 
ible to prevent his recovery. He talked cheer- 
fully to all who called, was always glad to hear 
of our spiritual prosperity, and continued to 
instruct us in our progress ; looked as when in 
health he lay on the couch for an hour's rest, 
and we could not believe he was so near his 
end until on Tuesday morning, when his pulse 
was found beating too rapidly to be counted. 
The doctor said : u I can do no more for him ; 
he probably will not live over twenty-four 
liours." 

Mrs. D. received it very calmly, whose ex- 



250 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

ample we tried to follow, but seeing our sup- 
pressed emotion Mr. D. said : "Has the doctor 
decided it for you?" I nodded a reply, and 
lie said : " It is well ; I have a few things left 
to do," and he arranged some minor details of 
business. 

We immediately sent for those whom we 
knew he would desire to see, and asked his 
wish about t sending for relatives or acquaint- 
ances. He replied: "Do not send for any but 
those who are the friends of the Lord ; to the 
others I have done my full duty for forty years, 
and God's claims have been rejected. I prefer 
to die among those who have honored him." 

We sat by the bed while he slept during the 
day and night, mournfully waiting the end ; 
his countenance was as fresh and bright as in 
perfect health ; he declined to eat, but often 
called for water, and though it was piercing 
cold weather, he wished his bed moved to the 
open door, saying: " Do not deny me the fresk 
air; it is now my only food." 

In the morning he greeted Mr. V. with a 
cheerful smile, and said : " Where do you sup- 
pose I am ? I am with Christ in God." He re- 
quested us to sing, which we did with much diffi- 
culty ; but soon the blessing of God came with 
such power upon us that our mourning was 
turned into rejoicing, and we sang for joy. In 
the midst of it he said : "Now, can any of you 



OF GEORGE DU^KLE. 251 

feel badly because I am to be taken first from 
the evil to come ? If you can rejoice in this, I 
die content, not taking any of the world with 
me." 

Then began a scene I am utterly unable to 
describe ; for four days he talked at intervals, 
often a whole hour or more at a time ; and once 
for five hours without cessation. Often, day 
or night, we would all be called to his side, and 
listened eagerly to the gracious words that 
came from his lips. He had never said but 
little of his joys, as his life was devoted to suf- 
fering in behalf of others ; but now he shouted 
praise and glory to God and was as he said, 
" inexpressibly happy." This blessing con- 
tinued to a greater or less extent while he lived. 

I have not space to relate all he said during 
that time, but will give a few extracts from the 
main points of which he spoke. He reviewed 
his experience from its beginning, and said: 
"God sent me into the world to contend for a 
great principle, and in looking my life all over, 
if I have anything to regret it is that I have 
not been more radical, and could I begin my 
life now I would oppose more decidedly than 
I ever have the false profession in the different 
churches. There is no choice among them ; 
they are one in spirit, and God's curse is upon 
the whole. I warn you all with my dying voice 
not to give any countenance to them, as if you 



252 KELIGIOUS EXPEEIENCE 

do you secure the mark of the Beast, and . will 
fail of coming up to the great bar without spot 
or wrinkle or any such thing." 

He spoke for some time of the outward af- 
fliction he had passed through from different 
causes, and added : ' ; There are few who think 
more of a good name than I once did; and even 
in my wicked days I loved morality and strove 
to be above reproach, but the world will love 
only its own ; and as I became separated from 
it I received its hatred as did my Master, and 
I can safely say there could nothing more be 
said than has been to defame and slander me. 
I can claim the truth, that * all manner of evil 
has been said of me falsely for Christ's sake,' 
and I now- rejoice and am glad, for great is my 
reward in heaven. Do not concern yourselves 
about those persons who have done all that the 
evil one could inspire them to do against me. 
Their time will come soon enough and last 
long enough ; they have rejoiced when I 
mourned ; now my rejoicing has begun and I 
already feel the victory over death, hell, and 
the grave, and will soon be where all tears are 
wiped from all eyes, and the greatest joy of all 
is, it is but the beginning of an unending state. 
Notwithstanding all that has been done and all 
who have proved unfaithful to this cause, yet 
I have more to bury me "than the Savior had, 
and am glad to have you with me to the last." 



OF GEORGE DUNKLE. 255 

He gave advice to each as to their course in 
life with a wisdom not understood until after 
years; exhorted the strong to care for the weak; 
to communicate with each other on all import- 
ant matters, so that the light of oue might 
help the other, and urged us to keep the unity 
of the faith and the fellowship of the spirit, 
•saying : " Satan cannot destroy you unless he 
first divide ; and if you lose the love, all the 
other graces will not keep you ; and should 
there be any jars among you, bring it all out 
to the light of truth, and by that let all your 
decisions be made. ' ? 

He manifested the greatest affection for Mrs, 
D., and charged us with her care through life, 
and taking her in his arms he said : ; ' You and 
I have lived together for over fifty years ; when 
you saw your unsaved condition I was thank- 
ful, and when you became saved I greatly re- 
joiced. It had been one of the charges against 
me that you were not with me ; it cannot be so 
said truthfully now. I die feeling we will not 
long be separated. An effort will be made to win 
you back, but you are too fully committed to 
be influenced now. I have provided every com- 
fort for your few remaining years, and you 
know you can trust those with whom I leave 
you ; you will make a home for those I have 
mentioned, and while you live continue the 
meetings that have been held so long in our 



254 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

house, and where souls may still be benefited." 
He gave minute directions as to every part of 
his funeral, requested that the undertaker pro- 
vide the bearers, selected the spot for his burial 
and the hymn to be sung, which was : 

" Who are these arra} r ed in white ? " etc. 

Then turning to Mr. Y., he said: "You can 
say a few words and make a short prayer." 
Then, as he saw the expression on Mr. V.'s 
countenance, he continued : "I know you feel 
some as Moses did, who was slow of speech ; 
but it is no time for oratory and I desire no 
eulogy ; the more simple it is the better it will 
be. Many unkind remarks will follow the ex- 
ercises, but do as I request and God's blessing 
will be upon it ; having which, do not regard 
what the world says." 

Sunday morning he asked with a smile : " Do 
you know the resurrection anthem ? " I could 
not think what he meant, and waited a mo- 
ment, when he said : " ' Christ the Lord is risen 
to-day;' sing it, and go on with the meeting 
as usual." He manifested great joy while we 
were singing, but slept during the remaining 
exercises. During the day he said to me : "If 
you see me when I am about to go sing ' Thou 
sweet gliding Kedron'," a hymn of which he 
had been especially fond for a year. After 
that he spoke but little, once saying: "When 
I cannot speak, I will raise my hands in praise 



OF GEORGE DOTKLE. 255 

to God," which he often did, raising his eyes 
heavenward and his countenance beaming with 

joy. 

Monday night it became evident his end was 
near; his countenance changed for the first, 
and he began to breathe with difficulty, until 
Tuesday at noon the end came ; half an hour 
before this we sang the hymn as he requested, 
to which he nodded response, and especially 
so at the verse, 

"How damp were the vapors 
That fell on his head ! 
How hard was his pillow ! 
How humble his bed ! " 

He gave the last sign of consciousness as we 
sang, 

"The triumph of sorrow, 
The triumph of love.' ' 

After being given up to die in a few hours, 
he had lived eight days, had not tasted food, 
and had spent hours in talking, that would 
have exhausted one in full strength, without 
hoarseness or showing any signs of fatigue, 
being miraculously strengthened for this final 
testimony to those to whom for so many years 
he had declared the everlasting Gospel. None 
who were there during that week can ever for- 
get the glory which beamed on his countenance 
and the divine power with which he was clothed 
as he explained the Scriptures, related his long 
experience, and exhorted us who were there to 



256 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 

steadfastness in the faith, his only support; 
Had there been anything lacking to convince 
us that his position was in all things owned 
and approved by God, what was here seen and 
heard for eight days would have supplied it. 
All his arrangements were carried out to the 
letter, and as the earth fell upon his plain cof- 
fin, I heard a voice above me say, "Itiswell 
done." In conclusion I would say, living, dy- 
ing, he contended against everything but truth; 
and the fruit of his labor still exists in the 
hearts of some, who received the Gospel he 
taught ; they live in the enjoyment of it, and 
are patiently waiting to join him on the other 
shore ; and there will be a little company from 
this place whom he can present to the Father 
and say, "Here am land the children thou 
gavest me." Though the principles for which 
he contended have been many times crushed to 
the earth, they have always risen to the help 
of any honest soul who turned to the Word for 
light, and in the end every saved soul gathered 
from the long ages of time will have been re- 
deemed by the very doctrines he taught, and 
will unite in the song of praise to "Him who^ 
died to open up the one right way" 



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